Proton sponge phosphines: electrospray-active ligands.

Attachment of a proton sponge to a phosphine ligand renders neutral complexes of the ligand highly amenable to analysis by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The ligand 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthyldiphenylphosphine (3) is extremely efficient and highly selective in forming exclusively [M + H]+ ions, which may be detected at very low concentration. Ionisation efficiency of 3 in the presence of H+ approached 100%. The bis-substituted ligand bis{1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthyl}phenylphosphine (4) was also prepared and characterised, as were Fe(CO)4- (5c), Mn(eta5-C5H4Me)(CO)2- (6) and W(CO)5- (7) complexes of 3. Compounds 3, 3.HBr.EtOH, 4 and 5c were all structurally characterised.