Bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)phosphane Cp2PH reacts with sulfur un
der basic conditions to give the corresponding dithiophosphinate salts
M+ CP2PS2- (5 M+ = HNEt3+ 6 M+ = Li+), which are formed via the inte
rmediate CPP-2(S)H (4). Both salts on treatment with cobalt(II) chlor
ide give rise to the transition metal dithiophosphinate 7. The structu
res of this new type of diorganodithiophosphinate complexes in the sol
id state have been investigated. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.