Carbene-Stabilized Parent Phosphinidene

The lithiated N-heterocyclic carbene−phosphinidene adduct L′:P−H (3; L′: = :C{[N(2,6-Pri2C6H3)]2CHCLi(THF)3}) unexpectedly resulted from the reaction of lithium metal with the carbene-stabilized diphosphorus species L:P−P:L (2; L: = :C{N(2,6-Pri2C6H3)CH}2). Compound 2 was previously prepared by the potassium graphite reduction of L:PCl3 (1).