Reactions of Bis(triphenylphosphonio)isophosphindolide Salts with Mercury(II) Compounds: Coordination Induced Addition and Oxidation Reactions and Synthesis of a Monomeric 1:1 Complex of the Type [R(2)(R'O)P]HgBr(2).

Bis(triphenylphosphonio)isophosphindolide triflate (1[CF(3)SO(3)]) reacted with HgCl(2) and H(2)O or MeOH to give a phosphinito complex which was converted with excess HgCl(2) into the dimercury complex 5. In contrast, methanolysis of 1[X] (X = CF(3)SO(3), Br) in the presence of Hg(OAc)(2) afforded the phosphonium cation 9. A mercury complex 8 was isolated for X = Br as a reaction intermediate.