Iron- and Cobalt-Catalyzed Synthesis of Carbene Phosphinidenes.

In the presence of stoichiometric or catalytic amounts of [M{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂] (M=Fe, Co), N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) react with primary phosphines to give a series of carbene phosphinidenes of the type (NHC)⋅PAr. The formation of (IMe₄)⋅PMes (Mes=mesityl) is also catalyzed by the phosphinidene-bridged complex [(IMe₄)₂Fe(μ-PMes)]₂, which provides evidence for metal-catalyzed phosphinidene transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]