Formation of phosphino-substituted isocyanate by reaction of CO2 with group 2 complexes based on the (Me3Si)(i-Pr2P)NH ligand.

The group 2 complexes (Me(3)Si)(i-Pr(2)P)NM(THF)(x) (M = Mg, x = 1; M = Ca/Sr, x = 2) as well as an unusual dimagnesium complex {(Me(3)Si)(i-Pr(2)P)NMg}Mg(n-C(4)H(9)) have been prepared and characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Each complex was shown to react with CO(2) under extremely mild conditions (15 min, 1 atm, room temperature) to give the isocyanate (i-Pr)(2)P-N═C═O. The independent syntheses of (i-Pr)(2)P-N═C═O and the carbodiimide dimer (i-Pr)(2)PNCNP(i-Pr)(2) are also reported.