Malonodinitrile CH2(CN)(2) as synthon for the preparation of unprecedentedN-metalla and N-phosphino-beta-diimine ligands

Unprecedented N-phosphino-beta -diimine ligands 4 and 5 have been prepared from a facile one-pot synthesis using malonodinitrile, CH2(CN)(2), the Schw artz reagent [Cp2Zr(H)Cl](n) (1), and the corresponding chlorophosphines R2 PCl 2 and 3. An alkyl aluminum complex and the corresponding bidentate lith ium salt ligand have been isolated. We showed that the reactivity of the N- phosphino-beta -diimine compound 4 and that of the corresponding N-thiophos phino-beta -diimine derivative 6 with HCl are completely different. The che mistry reported suggests unique and interesting chelating behavior which ma y differ from that of existing beta -diimine ligands.