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Updated: Mar 25, 2026

The Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Series of Ruthenium N-triphosPh Complexes
Published on: April 10, 2015
Structurally versatile phosphine and amine donors constructed from N-heterocyclic olefin units
Nathan R Paisley1, Melanie W Lui1, Robert McDonald1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G2 Canada. erivard@ualberta.ca.
Abstract:
A general strategy for the synthesis of hindered N- and P-based donors is presented whereby the strongly electron releasing N-heterocyclic olefin (NHO) unit, IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-, (IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH- = [(HCNDipp)2C[double bond, length as m-dash]CH](-); Dipp = 3,6-(i)Pr2C6H2) is linked to terminally bound phosphine and amine donors. Preliminary coordination chemistry is presented involving phosphine (IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)PR2 (R = (i)Pr and Ph) and amine (IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)NMe2 ligands and the Lewis acids BH3 and AuCl. Interestingly, (IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)NMe2 binds AuCl through an exocyclic olefin unit, while the softer phosphorus centers in (IPr[double bond, length as m-dash]CH)PR2 coordinate to yield Au-P linkages; thus the reported NHO-based ligands exhibit tunable binding modes to metals.
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