Differences in the η1-ligating properties of 2,4,6-tritertiarybutyl-phosphabenzene, PC5H2Bu3t and 2,4,6-tritertiarybutyl-1,3,5-triphosphabenzene, P3C3Bu3t

Several eta(1)-complexes of 2,4,6-tritertiarybutylphosphabenzene, PC5H2Bu3t, have been synthesised and structurally characterised including trans-[PtCl2(PEt3)(eta(1)-PC5Bu3t)], cis-[PdCl(C10H6CHMe(NMe2)(eta(1)-PC5H2Bu3t)] and [AuCl(eta(1)-PC5H2Bu3t)]. NMR spectroscopic evidence is presented for the partial isomerisation in solution of the 2,4,6-tritertiarybutyl-1,3,5-triphosphabenzene complexes trans-[PtCl2(PR3)(eta(1)-P3C3Bu3t)], (PR3 = PMe3 and PMe2Ph), to the corresponding cis-isomers. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.