ReI Complexes of Pyridylphosphinines and 2,2′-Bipyridine Derivatives: A Comparison

Abstract

The coordination chemistry of 2-(2′-pyridyl)-4,6-diarylphosphinines towards ReI has been investigated and compared to the structurally analogous 2,2′-bipyridine derivatives. The different steric properties of the chelating pyridylphosphinines with respect to substituted bipyridines lead to considerable differences in the structures of the mononuclear [(P^N)Re(CO)3X] and [(N^N)Re(CO)3X] (X = Cl, Br) complexes, both in the solid state and in solution. The phosphinine-based coordination compounds are highly sensitive towards nucleophilic attack and react reversibly with water at the P=C double bond.