Synthesis and structure of K+ [iPrN=C=P]-, a 1-aza-3lambda3-phospha-3-allenide.

2-Isopropyl(trimethylsilyl)amino-1lambda3-phosphaalkyne 1 reacts with potassium tert-butoxide to form potassium 1-isopropyl-1-aza-3lambda3-phospha-3-allenide (2). This compound was structurally characterized as the corresponding 18-crown-6 ether complex 3. The molecular structure of 1 was also determined in order to compare the bonding situation in the anion and the neutral lambda3-phosphaalkyne. Compound 3 contains a nitrogen-carbon-phosphorus group for which the parameters were shown by X-ray structural analysis and quantum chemical calculations to lie between the extrema N-C[triple bond]P and N=C=P, suggesting reactivity typical of an ambident anion. This is indeed the case, as subsequent reaction of 2 with chlorotrimethylsilane at nitrogen regenerates the lambda3-phosphaalkyne 1; with chlorotriphenylsilane the new derivative 4 is formed. In contrast, chlorotrimethylstannane reacts at phosphorus, giving the 1-aza-3lambda3-phosphaallene isopropyliminomethylidene(trimethylstannyl)phosphane 5.