Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of tetramethylphospholyl complexes of scandium

Reaction of 2 equiv. of (C4Me4P)Li(tmeda) (tmeda = tetraethylenediamine) with 1 equiv. of ScCl3(THF)3 gave the new compound (η5-C4Me4P)2ScCl2Li(tmeda) (1), which was characterized by X-ray crystallography. A phospholyl moiety in 1 is labile, as demonstrated by reactions of 1 with LiCH(SiMe3)2 and Cp∗Li (Cp∗ = C5Me5) to afford, respectively, (η5-Me4C4P)Sc[CH(SiMe3)2]Cl2Li(tmeda) (4) and (η5-Me4C4P)Cp∗ScCl2Li(tmeda) (5). Attempts to generate alkyl derivatives of the general type (η5-C4Me4P)2ScR (R = alkyl) were unsuccessful.