A new tripodal ligand system based on the iminophosphorane functional group. Part 1: Synthesis and characterization

Two tripodal alcohols, viz., 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane and α,α,α-tris(hydroxymethyl)toluene were converted by an efficient multi-step pathway involving azide formation into the corresponding tris(iminophosphorane) scaffolds bearing cyclopentyl (Cp) or phenyl groups on their phosphorus atoms, R-C(CH2-NPR′3)3 (R=Me or Ph, R′=Cp or Ph). The synthesis of some representative transition-metal complexes of Cu(I), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Pd(II) bearing these new tridentate ligands is also reported.