Bi‐ and tridentate coordination behaviour of a novel bis(phosphinimino)methanide ligand

Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel ferrocenyl-functionalized bis(phosphinimino)methane ligand (CH${}_2$(PPh${}_2$NFc)${}_2$). Deprotonation of CH${}_2$(PPh${}_2$NFc)${}_2$ with KN(SiMe${}_3$)${}_2$ gave the dimeric species [K{CH(PPh${}_2$NFc)${}_2$}]${}_2$, which was further reacted with ECl${}_2$ (E=Ge, Sn) to yield the tetrylene compounds [{CH(PPh${}_2$NFc)${}_2$}ECl]. The ligand and the resulting tetrylenes were examined for their electrochemical properties with the aid of cyclic voltammetry. Furthermore, the reaction of the tetrylenes [{CH(PPh${}_2$NFc)${}_2$}ECl] with [AuC${}_6$F${}_5$(tht)] resulted in the bimetallic complexes [{(AuC${}_6$F${}_5$)CH(PPh${}_2$NFc)${}_2$}ECl] with an unusual Au coordination on the ligand backbone.