Dehydroiodination of Iodo‐ and Diiodomethane by a Transient Phosphinidene Complex

Abstract

Elimination round: Dehydroiodination occurs when transient phosphinidene complex 1 is treated with iodomethane and diiodomethane, thus formally eliminating CH2 and CHI and giving in both cases complex 2 (see scheme; R=CH(SiMe3)2; R′=CH3, CH2I). The overall reactions represent examples of unprecedented PC bond-cleavage reactions, and proceed under unusually mild conditions.