Phosphasilene mediated CO activation and deoxygenative homo coupling of CO molecules in reactions with metal carbonyls

Abstract

Herein, we report the synthesis of a new sterically demanding hyper-coordinate phosphasilene (Mes*PSi(SiMe₃)(PhC(N^tBu)₂) (1) and its unprecedented reactivity with metal carbonyls (M = Fe, Mo, W). The reaction of 1 with Fe(CO)₅ involves the deoxygenative homocoupling of two CO molecules, forming a rare ketene (μ-CCO) inserted Fe complex 2. Contrastingly, reactions with M(CO)₆ (M = Mo, W) entail the deoxygenated activation of one CO molecule, with the second CO molecule being trapped between Si and P atoms. All the compounds including their crystal structures, are thoroughly characterized and potential energy profiles for the reaction mechanisms are also explored.