Coordination chemistry of new selective ethylene trimerisation ligand Ph2PN(iPr)P(Ph)NH(R) (R = iPr, Et) and tests in catalysis.

The synthesis of [Ph(2)PN((i)Pr)P(Ph)NH(R)] (R = (i)Pr, Et) (1, 2) is described and the structure of 2 has been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Compound 1 readily reacts with chromium(0), nickel(0), nickel(II), palladium(II), platinum(II) and iron(II) complexes to give four-membered rings (3-10) via P,P' coordination. The molecular structures of [Cr(CO)(4){Ph(2)PN((i)Pr)P(Ph)NH(R)-P,P'}] (R = (i)Pr, Et) (3, 4), [Cr(CO)(3)(NCCH(3)){Ph(2)PN((i)Pr)P(Ph)NH((i)Pr)-P,P'}] (5), [Ni{Ph(2)PN((i)Pr)P(Ph)NH((i)Pr)-P,P'}(2)] (6), cis-[MX(2){Ph(2)PN((i)Pr)P(Ph)NH((i)Pr)-P,P'}] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt; X = Cl or Br) (7, 8, 9) and trans-[Fe(NCCH(3))(2){Ph(2)PN((i)Pr)P(Ph)NH((i)Pr)-P,P'}(2)](BF(4))(2) (10) have been determined by X-ray diffraction. In the solid state, these complexes show tight phosphine bite angles in the range 67.89(2) degrees to 74.97(4) degrees and the central nitrogen atom adopts an almost planar (sp(2)) geometry. Complexes 3, 5, 6, 7 and 10 are tested for their catalytic activity in ethylene oligomerisation. Additionally, complex 10 is tested in hydrogenation of olefins.