Inorganic Chemistry, Vol.46, No.10, 4320-4325, 2007
Alkaline earth metal complexes of a phosphine-borane-stabilized carbanion: Synthesis, structures, and stabilities
The reaction between either MgI2 or CaI2 and 2 equiv of [(Me3Si)(2){Me-2(H3B)P}C]K (2) in toluene gives the corresponding organo-alkaline earth metal compounds [(Me3Si)(2){Me-2(H3B)P}C](2)M in moderate to good yields [M = Mg (3), Ca (4)]. Compound 3 crystallizes solvent-free, whereas X-ray quality crystals of 4 could not be obtained in the absence of coordinating solvents; crystallization of 4 from cold methylcyclohexane/THF gives the solvate [(Me3Si)(2){Me-2(H3B)P}C](2)Ca(THF)(4) (4a). The corresponding heavier alkaline earth metal complexes [(Me3Si)(2){Me-2(H3B)P}C](2)M(THF)(5) [M = Sr (7), Ba (8)] are obtained from the reaction between MI2 and 2 equiv of 2 in THF, followed by recrystallization from cold methylcyclohexane/THF. Compound 3 degrades over a period of several weeks at room-temperature both in the solid state and in toluene solution to give the free phosphine-borane (Me3Si)(2){Me-2(H3B)P}CH (5) as the sole phosphorus-containing product. In addition, compounds 3, 4, and 4a react rapidly with THF in toluene solution, yielding 5 as the sole phosphorus-containing product; in contrast, compounds 7 and 8 are stable toward this solvent.