Cyclic C-amino phosphorus ylides as a source of bidentate heteroditopic ligands (phosphine/aminocarbene) for transition metals.

In contrast with most of their congeners, acyclic and cyclic C-amino phosphorus ylides behave as genuine carbene and phosphine transfer agents for transition metal centers. They allow the facile synthesis of a variety of metal complexes that feature heteroditopic ligands, such as 1,6-(phosphine)(aminocarbene) systems with a biphenyl backbone.