A Neutral Geminal Tin/Phosphorus Frustrated Lewis Pair

Abstract

Abstract The geminal frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) (F 5 C 2 ) 3 SnCH 2 P(tBu) 2 ( 2 ) was prepared by reacting (F 5 C 2 ) 3 SnCl with LiCH 2 P(tBu) 2 . It is neutral and contains an extremely electronegatively substituted, but relatively soft (hard–soft acid–base, HSAB) acidic tin function. Its FLP‐type reactivity was proven by reaction with a variety of small molecules (CO 2 , SO 2 , CS 2 , PhNCO, HCl, (Ph 3 P)AuCl). However, it shows no reaction in H/D scrambling experiments with H 2 /D 2 mixtures and binds CO 2 reversibly, as was observed by VT‐NMR spectroscopy. Compound 2 and all its adducts were completely characterized by means of multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X‐ray diffraction experiments.