Template-controlled synthesis of a planar [16]ane-P2C(NHC)2 macrocycle.

Reaction of tetraphosphine platinum(II) complexes with 2-azidoethyl isocyanide 3 in methanol leads to complexes with two trans-coordinated NH,NH-stabilized carbene ligands 6(X)(2). Complexes 6(X)(2) react with phenyldivinylphosphine under substitution of the remaining phosphine ligands followed by an intramolecular hydroamination reaction to produce complex 1(PF(6))(2) with a macrocyclic [16]ane-P(2)C(NHC)(2) ligand.