Abstract

New phosphenium cations stabilized by bidentate monoanionic N-isopropyl-2-(isopropylamino)troponiminate or 2-(isopropylamino)troponate units have been synthesized. These complexes were characterized by 31P, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies, and the molecular structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. These data indicate the formation of N,N'- and N,O-chelate derivatives having three-coordinate phosphorous atoms included in planar heterobicycles. Moreover, computational studies support the presence of high delocalization of the positive charge into the p-conjugated carbon backbone and of the high-lying phosphorus lone-pair orbital. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.