Reactions of bis(triphenylphosphonio)isophosphindolide salts with mercury(II) compounds: coordination induced addition and oxidation reactions and synthesis of a monomeric 1:1 complex of the type [R2(R'O)P]HgBr2

The reactivity of the bis(triphenylphosphonio)isophosphindolide triflate was analyzed during the reaction of the bis(phosphonio)isophosphindolide cation with Hg2+. A phosphinito complex was formed by the reaction of the bis(phosphonio)isophosphindolide cation with HgCl2 and H2O or MeOH. The conversion of bis(triphenylphosphonio)isophosphindolide to phosphonium ions also involved 1,1-oxidative additions at the two coordinate phosphorus which was similar to isoelectronic compounds.