Novel porphyrinato[phosphoryl] cobalt(III) complexes were synthesized
unexpectedly through the reaction of BrCoIII(por) (por = porphyrinato
dianion) with Me3SiLi (MeLi-Me6Si2-HMPA) and MeLi in HMPA at -78 degre
es C. Phosphoryl complexes were also synthesized from HMPA-K and the a
ppropriate organophosphoryl chloride-K. As a result, Me3SiLi may not a
lways be an appropriate silylating agent for bulky organometallic elec
trophiles.