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The reaction of (C5Me5)2Th(CH3)2 with the phosphonium salts [CH3PPh3]X (X=Cl, Br, I) was investigated. When X=Br and I, two equivalents of methane are liberated to afford (C5Me5)2Th[CHPPh3]X, rare terminal phosphorano-stabilized carbenes with thorium. These complexes feature the shortest thorium-carbon bonds (≈2.30 Å) reported to date, and electronic structure calculations show some degree of multiple bonding. However, when X=Cl, only one equivalent of methane is lost with concomitant formation of benzene from an unstable phosphorus(V) intermediate, yielding (C5Me5)2Th[κ2-(C,C′)-(CH2)(CH2)PPh2]Cl. Density functional theory (DFT) investigations of the reaction energy profiles for [CH3PPh3]X, X=Cl and I showed that in the case of iodide, thermodynamics prevents the production of benzene and favors formation of the carbene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis and structural determination of the first thorium phosphinidene complex are reported. The reaction of 2 equiv of (C5Me5)2Th(CH3)2 with H2P(2,4,6-iPr3C6H2) at 95 °C produces [(C5Me5)2Th] 2 (μ2-P[(2,6-CH2CHCH3)2-4-iPrC6H2] as well as 4 equiv of methane, 2 equiv from deprotonation of the phosphine and 2 equiv from C-H bond activation of one methyl group of each of the isopropyl groups at the 2- and 6-positions. Transition state calculations indicate that the steps in the mechanism are P-H, C-H, C-H, and then P-H bond activation to form the phosphinidene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]