Is it possible to stabilise complexes with a tungsten–phosphorus triple bond?

Abstract

[W(CO)2{η4-(But2C2P2)W(CO)5}{η-2-(ButCP)W(CO)5}]1 is prepared by treatment of ButCP with [W(CO)5THF]; the reaction of [W2(OBut)6] with ButCP in the presence of [M(CO)5THF](M = Cr, W) affords novel compounds of the type [(ButO)3WP→M(CO)5](M = Cr, W), the first examples of a formal WP containing complex.