Phosphagallenes ( 1a / 1b ) featuring a double bond between the phosphorus and gallium atoms have been synthesized for the first time by reaction of (phosphanyl)phosphaketenes with the gallium carbenoid (Nacnac)Ga (Nacnac = HC[C(Me)N(2,6‐ i ‐Pr 2 C 6 H 3 )] 2 ). The stability of these species was found to be dependent on the saturation of the phosphanyl moiety. 1a , which bares an unsaturated phosphanyl ring, rearranges in solution to yield a spirocyclic gallium compound 2 which contains a P–P double bond. The saturated variant 1b is stable even at elevated temperatures. 1b behaves as a masked frustrated Lewis pair capable of activation of hydrogen and forms a 1:1 adduct with CO 2 .
decarbonylation
,phosphaketenes
,gallium
,multiple bonds
,phosphorus
