Syntheses and coordination chemistry of bis(4‐pyridyl)‐ and mixed (4‐pyridyl) (2‐pyridyl)‐phospholes

AbstractThe syntheses, spectroscopic characterizations, and X‐ray structures of two new N,P,N‐ligands 1 and 2 are described. These ligands are based on a central 2,5‐substituted phosphole ring and have, respectively, two 4‐pyridyl moieties, or one 4‐pyridyl moiety and one 2‐pyridyl moiety as substituents. The coordination chemistry of these ligands has been investigated. A Au(I)‐complex 5 bearing ligand 1 as a P‐donor and a Pt(II) complex 6 featuring ligand 2 as a P,N‐chelate were obtained. Complex 6 spontaneously evolves to complex 7 bearing a 2‐phospholene ring. Spectroscopic characterizations for complexes 5–7 as well as the X‐ray crystal structure of 7 are described. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 22:339–347, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/hc.20687