P–C Bond Activation and Transfer of a Diphenylphosphino Unit from 1,1′-Bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene: Unexpected Templated Synthesis of an N∧N–∧P Pincer Ligand Palladium Complex

The Pd-catalyzed Buchwald–Hartwig amination of 2-bromo-1-iodobenzene with (4-amino-2-tert-butyl)phenanthridine using 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) results in a side reaction involving the first reported example of P–C bond activation of dppf and the templated formation of an N∧N–∧P-supported Pd(II) coordination complex. The full characterization of this complex along with a proposed mechanism for a rare example of unstrained P–C(cyclopentadienyl) bond activation are described.