Coordination of N-heterocyclic phosphine- and phosphenium-containing pincer ligands to copper(I): Evidence for reactive electrophilic metal-phosphenium intermediates

The copper(I) coordination chemistry of an N-heterocyclic phosphenium-containing pincer ligand and its halophosphine precursors is explored, revealing highly electrophilic reactivity including ring-opening of tetrahydrofuran and phenyl group abstraction from the tetraphenylborate anion.43