Carbene-Stabilized Parent Phosphinidene

The lithiated N-heterocyclic carbene-phosphinidene adduct L':P-H (3; L': = :C{[N(2,6-(Pr2C6H3)-C-i)](2)CMCLi-(THF)(3)}) unexpectedly resulted from the reaction of lithium metal with the carbene-stabilized diphosphorus species L:P-P:L (2: L: = :C{N(2,6-(Pr2C6H3)-C-i)CH}(2)). Compound 2 was previously prepared by the potassium graphite reduction of L:PCl3 (1).