C-P or C-H Bond Cleavage of Phosphine Oxides Mediated by an Yttrium Hydride

Reactions of the yttrium anilido hydride [LY(NH(DIPP))(mu-H)](2) (1; L = [MeC(N(DIPP))CHC(Me)(NCH2CH2NMe2)]-, DIPP = (2),6-(Pr2C6H3)-Pr-i)) with three phosphine oxides and two phosphine sulfides are reported. The reaction of 1 with Ph3P=O gives C P bond cleavage and an yttrium anilido phosphinoyl complex, while those with R2MeP=O (R = Me, Ph) result in C H bond cleavage and two yttrium anilido alkyl complexes. 1 also reacted with R3P=S (R = Me, Ph), which demonstrated P S bond cleavage via hydride-based reduction and gave an yttrium anilido sulfide.