Synthesis of crown ether complexes of alkali-metallated organophosphine oxides and insertion reactions with isonitriles

The synthesis and crystal structures of the alkali-metallated organophosphine oxides [{Ph2P(O)CH2}K · 18-crown-6] (1) and [{Ph2P(O)CH2}Na · 15-crown-5] (2) are reported. In addition the insertion reaction of an isonitrile into the C–Li bond of [{Ph2P(O)CH2}Li] is reported and the crystal structure of the resulting tetrameric complex [Ph2P(O)CHCHN(Cy)Li]4 (3) (Cy = Cyclohexyl) described.

Graphical abstractThe solid-state structures of the crown-ether-solvated heavier alkali metal complexes [{Ph2P(O)CH2}K · 18-crown-6] and [{Ph2P(O)CH2}Na · 15-crown-5] are reported together with the insertion reaction of the lithiated organophosphine oxide [Ph2P(O)CH2Li] with cyclohexylisonitrile which produced [Ph2P(O)CHCHN(Cy)Li]4.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide