P-H and P-P bond activation by Ni(I) and Fe(I) beta-diketiminato-complexes

Reactions of ((NacNac)Ni)(2)(mu-eta(3)-eta(3)-C6H5Me) (NacNac = HC(CMeNC6H3(i-Pr)(2))(2)) with PH2Ph or PHPh2 proceeds in a facile manner to afford the Ni(I)-phosphine adducts (NacNac)Ni(PH2Ph) 1 and (NacNac)Ni(PHPh2) 2, respectively. The related reactions of the Fe(I) complex (NacNac)Fe(eta(2)-CH2CPh2) 3 with PH2Ph resulted in the formation of [(NacNac)Fe(mu(2)- PPh)](2) 4. Alternatively 4 was also obtained from the reaction of [(NacNac)Fe(mu-Cl)](2) with PHPh2 and Na/K. The Ni(II) di-phosphosphine bridged compound [(( NacNac)Ni)(2)(mu(4)-PPh)(2))] 5 was prepared via reaction of ((NacNac)Ni)(2)(mu-eta(3)-eta(3)-C6H5Me) with P5Ph5. Crystallographic data are reported for compounds 1- 5.