Teaching old tricks to new dogs - rational synthesis of multi-decker complexes featuring -P decks.

A rational synthetic pathway towards a series of -P-bearing multi-decker complexes was developed. The combination of [Cp*Fe(μ,η-P)] (A) with low-valent transition metal cations yields a series of triple-decker complexes [Cp*Fe(μ,η-P)MCp'''][WCA] (M = Cr - Ni; WCA = weakly coordinating anion, Cp''' = 1,2,4-BuCH). Utilizing the arene complexes [M(CR)][WCA] (M = Fe, Co) instead allowed the synthesis of the unprecedented -P-containing quadruple-decker complexes [{Cp*Fe(μ,η-P)}M][] (M = Fe, Co).