A Monoanionic Pincer Ligand with Pendant Phosphazene Arms: Stabilization of Main-Group and Transition Metal Complexes

An unprecedented anionic pincer ligand with pendant phosphazene arms [2,6-(MesN=PPh2)2C5H4N]- (LH) has been synthesized through a facile reaction of a bis(iminophosphoranyl)-pyridine ligand with K-selectride. LH can stabilize main-group and transition metal complexes LHGeCl, LHSnCl, LHZnCl, and LHCdI. X-ray diffraction analysis and theoretical study show that the phosphazene arms of LH strongly coordinate to the metal centers, while the central amide group alternatively donates one or two pairs of electrons to bind with different metal centers. An unprecedented anionic pincer ligand with pendant phosphazene arms has been synthesized, which can stabilize main-group and transition metal complexes. The phosphazene arms strongly coordinate to the metal centers, while the central amide group alternatively donates one or two pairs of electrons to bind with different metal centers.image