Neutral and cationic enantiopure group 13 iminophosphonamide complexes

Synthesis and reactivity of enantiopure iminophosphonamide ligand L-H (L = [Ph${}_2$P{N(R)CH(CH${}_3$)Ph}${}_2$]) with group 13 metal compounds has been investigated. The reaction of L-H with LiAlH${}_4$ afforded the aluminium monohydride complex [L${}_2$AlH]. The monochloride complexes [L${}_2$MCl] (M = Al, Ga) were accessed by reacting corresponding MCl${}_3$ (M = Al, Ga) with L-Li. Furthermore, the tetracoordinated aluminium cation [L${}_2$Al]${}^{+}$[GaCl${}_4$]${}^{-}$ and gallium cation [L${}_2$Ga]${}^{+}$[AlCl${}_4$]${}^{-}$ were obtained by chloride abstraction from [L${}_2$MCl] (M = Al, Ga), respectively. The title complexes represent the first examples of enantiopure group 13 metal complexes coordinated by chiral iminophosphonamides. All complexes have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, multinuclear NMR, EA and IR studies.