Phosphine boranes in coordination chemistry: an efficient method for the synthesis of chiral and achiral organophosphorus pentacarbonyltungsten complexes

The reaction of organophosphorus boranes with amine pentacarbonyltungsten complexes were observed to result into the corresponding chiral and achiral W(CO)5(PR3) complexes in 63-92% yields by a one-step synthesis. This reaction occurs under mild conditions through a ligand exchange between the borane and tungsten complexes. The stereochemistry of the production of pentacarbonyltungsten complexes with tertiary chiral organophosphorus compounds has high stereoselectivity and retention of configuration at the chiral P center.