The synthesis of two novel ferrocenyl-substituted phosphinecarboxamides, FcNHC(O)PH2(1; Fc = ferrocenyl) and FcCH(2)NHC(O)PH2(2), is reported. These two primary phosphines were obtained by the reaction of aminoferrocene with sodium 2-phosphaethynolate in the presence of a proton source or, directly, from aminomethylferrocene hydrochloride and sodium 2-phosphaethynolate.
Their ability to act as ligands was probedviareactions of1with rhodium(iii) and ruthenium(ii) precursors. The isoelectronic metal complexes [(η(5)-C5Me5)RhCl2(1-κP)] and [(η(6)-mes)RuCl2(1-κP)] were obtained.
Treatment of these compounds with a base resulted in HCl elimination to afford phosphide-bridged dirhodium and diruthenium complexes highlighting that on coordination to a metal, the P-H bonds of these phosphinecarboxamides become increasingly protic.