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

Abstract

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.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Phosphine PH₃
• mesitylphosphine
• dimesitylphosphine
• organonickel σ-complexes
• transmetalation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work is financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project 18-13-00442).