THE SYNTHESIS OF TRIDENTATE DIALKYLAMINO LIGANDS CONTAINING TERTIARY PHOSPHORUS OR ARSENIC DONORS

Use of the trimethylsilyl protecting function on nitrogen enables the high yield preparation of the potentially tridentate ligands of the type HN(CH2CH2 ER2)2 (E = P; R = Me, Et, iPr and E = As; R = Me, Et) by nucleophillic substitution of halide in Me3SiN (CH2CH2Cl)2. The di-isopropylphosphino and diethylarsino derivatives have not previously been reported, the other derivatives described are now available in considerably improved yields via this new route. The failure of syntheses or poor yields obtained from unprotected amine precursors is explained by aziridine formation. Deprotonation of the amines provides series of chelating dialkylamido ligands enabling access to new classes of novel complexes. © 1990.