Chromium tricarbonyl complex of phosphaalkene: Crystal structure and electrochemistry of the Cr(CO)3 complex of PhC(H)PMes*, EPR and DFT studies of its radical anion

We report the synthesis, crystal structure and electrochemical behaviour of a complex in which the Ph group of the phosphaalkene PhC(H)PMes* (Mes*: 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl) is coordinated to a chromium tricarbonyl group. The EPR spectra resulting from electrochemical and chemical reductions are described and the experimental g and hyperfine tensors (31P)T, as determined from the EPR data, are compared with those predicted by DFT calculations for the radical anion (Cr(CO)3, PhC(H)PMes)−. The structural changes caused by the addition of an electron to the neutral complex are described, together with an estimation of the contribution of Cr(CO)3 to the stabilization of the radical anion.

Graphical abstractThe phenyl ring bound to a phosphaalkene carbon has been complexed with Cr(CO)3; the crystal structure and the electrochemical behaviour of the resulting complex are described. Structure and stabilization of the radical anion are investigated by EPR and DFT calculations.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide