Reaction of NaP5 with half-sandwich complexes of nickel:: The first example of an Ni-promoted transformation of the P5- anion

The reaction of sodium pentaphosphacyclopentadienide, NaP5, with [Cp*NiBr(PPh3)] (CP* = eta(5)-C5Me5) gave only decomposition products. However, with [(eta(3)-C3Ph3)NiBr(PMe2Ph)] sodium 1,2-diphosphacyclopentadienide was formed, which is the product of an unusual Ni-promoted degradation of the pentaphosphacyclopentadienide anion.