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A method for the synthesis of new C-silyl-N,N-dialkyl-N′-arylformamidines was developed. These derivatives were formed by the deprotonation of N-(trimethylsilyl)formamidinium salts to give the corresponding N-trimethylsilyl carbenes followed by a 1,2-migration of the silyl group. The reactions of C-silylformamidines with phosphorus(III) chlorides were then studied. The reactions between chlorodiphenylphosphane and the C-silylformamidines readily afforded C-phosphanylformamidines in high yields. The reactions of dichlorophosphanes and C-silylformamidines yielded previously unknown phosphanes that feature two formamidine substituents. In the reaction with phosphorus trichloride, the sterically least encumbered formamidine gave a stable two-coordinate compound through the formation of an intermediate tris(phosphane). The reactions of the sterically more encumbered formamidines led to the substitution of only two chlorine atoms to give a chlorophosphane or benzazaphosphole. The structures of key compounds were proven by X-ray crystal structure analyses.

The deprotonation of N-di-tert-butylphosphanyl-N-aryl-N′-diisopropylformamidinium salts led to a new type of stable acyclic N-phosphanyl-diaminocarbene (PADC). Carbenes 8a–8d were separated as single compounds. The molecular structure of 8c was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The PADC 8 possess an optimal substitution pattern at the nitrogen atoms, and the N–Ccarbene–N bond angle is 120.7°. Structural changes near the carbenic carbon atom, such as substitution of phenyl with mesityl, phosphanyl with selenophosphoryl, or the diisopropylamino group with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino, rendered them unstable. The PADCs underwent N,C-phosphorus shifts to afford new C-phosphanylformamidines.

The reactions of (di-tert-butylphosphanyl)amines and P,P-di-tert-butylphosphinoselenoic amides with Alder's dimer were studied. For di-tert-butylphosphanylamines, the reaction proceeds by primary electrophilic attack of Alder's dimer at the phosphorus atom to afford a dicationic salt 3. The deprotonation of 3 led to N-phosphanylformamidine 5 (“phosfam”). Alkyl(di-tert-butylphosphanyl)amines reacted with Alder's dimer in a 2:1 molar ratio to give N-phosphanylformamidinium salts; the second equivalent of (alkylamino)phosphane acts as a base. (Arylamino)phosphanes reacted with Alder's dimer to give benzazaphospholium derivatives. To direct the electrophilic attack of Alder's dimer at the nitrogen atom, phosphinoselenoic amides were used. They reacted with Alder's dimer at the selenium atom followed by a selenium–phosphorus shift to give N-(di-tert-butylphosphoroselenoyl)formamidinium salts. The phosphinoselenoic amides with bulky substituents (adamantyl, tBu) underwent cleavage of the N–alkyl bond to afford phosfams. Various key intermediates such as 3 and 22b were isolated and characterized. A convenient method for the synthesis of carbene precursor PIII and PV N-substituted formamidinium salts was developed.

Neutral dinuclear gold(I) complexes having general formula [Au2Cl2(NHCP)] (NHCP = N-phosphanyl N-heterocyclic carbene) have been synthesized by two different synthetic procedures: i) transmetalation of the NHCP ligand from the corresponding dinuclear silver(I) complex; ii) deprotonation of the corresponding N-phosphanyl azolium/tetrahydropyrimidinium salt in the presence of the gold(I) precursor. Interestingly, although the silver complexes are invariably dinuclear dicationic species of formula [Ag2(NHCP)2](OTf)2, both stoichiometries [Au2(NHCP)2](OTf)2 and [Au2Cl2(NHCP)] are potentially accessible with gold. Preference for either stoichiometry is dictated by the steric properties of the NHCP ligand as well as by a proper choice of the experimental conditions. On the other hand, preparation of copper(I) compounds with [Cu2Cl2(NHCP)] stoichiometry leads to product mixtures and has not led up to now to pure neutral compounds. Both the silver(I) and gold(I) complexes have been structurally characterized.

A direct synthetic approach to C-phosphanyl-N,N-dialkyl-N′-aryl(alkyl)-formamidines was developed. It was shown that phosphorylation of the formamidines proceeds at the nitrogen atom affording N-phosphanylformamidinium salts. Upon deprotonation, these salts gave C-phosphanylformamidines via formation of carbenes followed by a 1,2-phosphorus shift.

A direct synthetic approach to C-phosphanyl-N,N-dialkyl-N′-aryl(alkyl)-formamidines was developed. It was shown that phosphorylation of the formamidines proceeds at the nitrogen atom affording N-phosphanylformamidinium salts. Upon deprotonation, these salts gave C-phosphanylformamidines via formation of carbenes followed by a 1,2-phosphorus shift.