Iminophosphanes: Unconventional Compounds of Main Group Elements

Abstract The large number of known stable compounds in which phosphorus has a low coordination number makes it clear that such compounds can no longer be regarded as “exotic” in main group chemistry. While the rich chemistry of PC multiply bonded systems makes clear their affinity to their organic congeners, iminophosphanes in particular are also of increasing importance. The linkage of a phosphinidine fragment with an imine fragment via a multiple bond gives rise to a class of compounds with an unusually wide range of structural types. This in turn leads to a broad spectrum of chemical behavior which makes iminophosphanes extremely useful synthetic building blocks in organoelement chemistry.