The synthesis of 2-iodophosphinines 5 (a, parent compound; b, 4,5-dime
thyl derivative) and of their pentacarbonyltungsten complexes 7 is des
cribed starting from dichloro-(diiodomethyl)phosphine (2), which was p
repared via alkylation of phosphorus trichloride with (diiodomethyl)ma
gnesium chloride (1). The halogen-metal exchange reactions of 5a/b and
7a/b are reported: the lithiation reactions of 5a/b with n-BuLi were
not successful. In contrast, the complexes 7a/b were converted to the
corresponding lithium derivatives 11a/b with n-BuLi in THF at -100 deg
rees C. Derivatization of 11a/b with triphenyltin chloride furnished 1
3a/b, respectively. The reaction of 5b with magnesium in THF at room t
emperature led to the formation of 3,4-dimethylphosphinine (18) (41.5%
), 4,4',5,5'-tetramethyl-2,2'-biphosphinine (16) (1.3%), and 2-(iodoma
gnesio)-4,5-dimethylphosphinine (17) (19.2%); 37% of the starting mate
rial had decomposed. In a reaction with zinc, 5b gave the organozinc d
erivatives 20 or 21 in THF/TMEDA or DMF, respectively. The same zinc i
nsertion procedures were applied to 7b but did not furnish the pentaca
rbonyltungsten complexes 22 or 24 in a clean fashion. However, 22 coul
d be prepared via complexation of 20 with (acetonitrile)-pentacarbonyl
tungsten (6).