The formation of mesitylphosphine and dimesitylphosphine in the reaction of organonickel σ-complex [NiBr(Mes)(bpy)] (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) with phosphine PH3.

The reactivity of the previously reported organonickel σ-complex [NiBr(Mes)(bpy)], where Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, toward phosphine PH3 was investigated. The reaction leads to primary mesitylphosphine MesPH2 as the main product and dimesitylphosphine Mes2PH as secondary product with the nickel complex as transmetalating agent. The formed MesPH2 reacts with an excess of the complex giving Mes2PH as the major product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]