Publication
The first solid-state structures of complexed P3N3X6 (X=halogen) are reported for X=Cl. The compounds were obtained from P3N3Cl6 and Ag[Al(OR)4] salts in CH2Cl2/CS2 solution. The very weakly coordinating anion with R=C(CF3)3 led to the salt Ag(P3N3Cl6)2+[Al(OR)4]- (1), but the more strongly coordinating anion with R=C(CH3)(CF3)2 gave the molecular adduct (P3N3Cl6)AgAl(OR)4 (3). Crystals of [Ag(CH2Cl2)(P3N3Cl6)2]+[Al(OR)4]- (2), in which Ag+ is coordinated by two phosphazene and one CH2Cl2 ligands, were isolated from CH2Cl2 solution. The three compounds were characterized by their X-ray structures, and 1 and 3 also by NMR and vibrational spectroscopy. Solution and solid-state 31P NMR investigations in combination with quantum chemically calculated chemical shifts show that the 31P NMR shifts of free and silver-coordinated P3N3Cl6 differ by less than 3 ppm and indicate a very weakly bound P3N3Cl6 ligand in 1. The experimental silver ion affinity (SIA) of the phosphazene ligand was derived from the solid-state structure of 3. The SIA shows that (PNCl2)3 is only a slightly stronger Lewis base than P4 and CH2Cl2, while other ligands such as S8, P4S3, toluene, and 1,2-Cl2C2H4 are far stronger ligands towards the silver cation. The energetics of the complexes were assessed with inclusion of entropic, thermal, and solvation contributions (MP2/TZVPP, COSMO). The formation of the cations in 1, 2, and 3 was calculated to be exergonic by DeltarG°(CH2Cl2)=-97, -107, and -27 kJ mol-1, respectively. All prepared complexes are thermally stable; formation of P3N3Cl5+ and AgCl was not observed, even at 60 °C in an ultrasonic bath. Therefore, the formation of P3N3Cl5+ was investigated by quantum chemical calculations. Other possible reaction pathways that could lead to the successful preparation of P3N3X5+ salts were defined.