Hydroelementation and Phosphinidene Transfer: Reactivity of Phosphagermenes and Phosphastannenes Towards Small Molecule Substrates.

We describe the facile synthesis of [(Me Si) CH] E=PMes* (E=Ge, Sn) from the reaction of the tetrylenes with the phospha-Wittig reagent, Me P-PMes*. Their reactivity towards a range of substrates with protic and hydridic E-H bonds (E=N, O, Si) is described. In addition to hydroelementation reactions of the E=P bonds, we show that these compounds, particularly [(Me Si) CH] Sn=PMes*, also act as base-stabilized phosphinidenes, allowing phosphinidene transfer to other nucleophiles.