A metal and a metalloid Lewis acid bridged by a μ 2 -phosphinidene.

Dinuclear phosphinidene complexes bridging two transition metal centres are now well established. However, a phosphinidene bridging a metal centre and a main group Lewis acid has not yet been reported. Herein, we describe the generation of a highly reactive phosphinidene complex bridging a tungsten and a boron centre. Furthermore, the synthesis and dyotropic rearrangement of a P-borane adduct of an N -methylimidazole-stabilized neutral, electrophilic terminal phosphinidene complex is reported.