Charge Density Distribution in a Metallaphosphane

Abstract

Two lone pairs: The metallaphosphane [Me2Al(μ-Py)2P] contains a divalent PIII atom. Charge density investigations reveal the presence of two lone pairs at the central phosphorus atom. This result explains why the phosphorus atom in PPy2(H) can be employed in a μ-bridging fashion to two {W(CO)5} moieties in the unsupported dinuclear complex [{(OC)5W}2(μ-P)Py2(H)], and thus behaves as a four-electron donor.