Metal coordination to the formal P=N bond of an iminophosphorane and charge-density evidence against hypervalent phosphorus(V).

The iminophosphorane Ph(2)P(CH(2)Py)(NSiMe(3)) (1) was treated with deprotonating alkali metal reagents to give [(Et(2)O)Li[Ph(2)P(CHPy)(NSiMe(3))]] (2), [[Ph(2)P(CH(2)Py)(NSiMe(3))]Li[Ph(2)P(CHPy)(NSiMe(3))]] (3) and [[Ph(2)P(CH(2)Py)(NSiMe(3))]Na[Ph(2)P(CHPy)(NSiMe(3))]] (4). We report their coordination behaviour in solid-state structures and NMR spectroscopic features in solution. Furthermore, we furnish experimental evidence against hypervalency of the phosphorus atom in iminophosphoranes from experimental charge-density studies and subsequent topological analysis. The topological properties, correlated to the results from NMR spectroscopic investigations, illustrate that the formal P=N double bond is better written as a polar P(+)--N(-) single bond. Additionally, the effects of metal coordination on the bonding parameters of the iminophosphorane and the related anion are discussed.