Cyano(triphenylsilyl)phosphanide as a Building Block for P,C,N Conjugated Molecules

The cyano(triphenylsilyl)phosphanide anion was prepared as a sodium salt from 2‐phosphaethynolate. The electronic structure of this new cyano(silyl)phosphanide was studied via computational methods and its reactivity investigated using various electrophiles and Lewis acids, demonstrating its P‐ and N‐nucleophilicity. The ambident reactivity is in agreement with computations. The silyl group also shows lability and therefore the cyano(silyl)phosphanide can be considered as a phosphacyanamide synthon, [PCN](2−), and serves as building block for the transfer of a PCN moiety.