Titanocene pnictinidene complexes

Abstract

The phospha–Wittig reagent ^MesTerPPMe₃ (^MesTer = 2,6-{2,4,6-Me₃–C₆H₂}–C₆H₃) and arsa–Wittig reagent ^DipTerAsPMe₃ (^DipTer = 2,6-{2,6-iPr₂-C₆H₃}–C₆H₃) have been employed to synthesize the titanocene complexes Cp₂Ti(PMe₃)PnAr (Pn = P, As) with terminal phosphinidene or arsinidene ligands, respectively. Ab initio studies show that the description as singlet biradicaloids in their ground state is warranted.