Reductive Elimination of α-Phosphinozirconocene Iminoacyl Complexes: First Evidence of Neutral η1-Imine Zirconocene. Synthesis of Bi- or Tricyclic β-Phosphino Imines

Phosphinozirconocene complexes react with isocyanides to give unprecedented bi- or tricyclic β-phosphino imines through three successive and controlled steps. Spectroscopic and chemical evidence for the formation of the first neutral η1-imine zirconocene complexes in the reductive elimination reaction sequence is presented.