A bis(germylene) functionalized metal-coordinated polyphosphide and its isomerization

Abstract

Pentaphosphaferrocene, [Cp*Fe(eta(5)-P-5)] (Cp* = eta(5)-C5Me5), was used as a polyphosphorus source to obtain germylene-polyphosphide complexes. A stepwise reactivity was observed between the di-germylene, [LGe-GeL] (L = {PhC((NBu)-Bu-t)(2)}), and [Cp*Fe(eta(5)-P-5)]. Firstly, reductive homolytic cleavage of the Ge-Ge single bond in [LGe-GeL] led to [(LGe)(2){(mu,eta(4)-P-5)FeCp*}]. This complex showed an unprecedented isomerization.