Synthesis and characterization of lithium complexes of 2-(diphenylphosphanylamino)pyridine and N,2-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)benzeneamine

Lithium complexes of 2-(diphenylphosphinoamino)pyridine and N,2-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)benzeneamine have been synthesized from the corresponding neutral compounds. In the former complex, the metal ion is coordinated to both nitrogen atoms, forming a constrained four-membered ring, whereas the latter complex forms a five-membered ring as the metal ion coordinates preferentially to the phosphorus atom. Coordination of the metal ion in both complexes is dictated primarily by soft-hard interactions and, subsequently, by the constrained geometry of the ring formed. Both lithium complexes and the corresponding neutral compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004).