Guilty as charged: non-innocent behavior by a pincer ligand featuring a central cationic phosphenium donor.

The synthesis of a new pincer ligand containing a central cationic N-heterocyclic phosphenium donor is described. The electrophilic nature of this cationic ligand renders it non-innocent, and coordination of this ligand to a PtCl(2) fragment leads to chloride migration from Pt to the cationic phosphorus center.