Fixation and release of intact E₄ tetrahedra (E=P, As)

By the reaction of [NacnacCuCH3CN] with white phosphorus (P4) and yellow arsenic (As4), the stabilization and enclosure of the intact E4 tetrahedra are realized and the disubstituted complexes [(NacnacCu)2(μ,η(2:2)-E4)] (1 a: E=P, 1 b: E=As) are formed. The mono-substituted complex [NacnacCu(η(2)-P4)] (2), was detected by the exchange reaction of 1 a with P4 and was only isolated using low-temperature work-up. All products were comprehensively spectroscopically and crystallographically characterized. The bonding situation in the products as intact E4 units (E=P, As) was confirmed by theory and was experimentally proven by the pyridine promoted release of the bridging E4 tetrahedra in 1.