Imido-transfer reactions to carbonyl moiety induced by the reactions of imido-bridged cobaltadithiolene complexes with trivalent phosphorus halides

The reactions of the imido-bridged cobaltadithiolene complexes [CpCo{S2C2(COOMe)2}(NR)] (R=Ts, Ms) with PCl3 led to the imido-transfer reactions to the carbonyl moiety, and these reactions gave the novel imine complexes [CpCo{S2C2(COOMe)(CNROMe)}]. In the case of PI3, another imido-transfer reaction to carbonyl moiety occurred and the novel amide complexes [CpCo{S2C2(COOMe)(CONHR)}] were formed. PBr3 showed an intermediate reactivity value in between that of PCl3 and that of PI3. Both novel imido-transfer reactions were caused by intermolecular reactions, these reaction processes were determined by crossover experiments.