Phosphorus-lead bonds azides

The reaction of an azide RN3 and a phosphine PR 3 yields the reactive phos-phoranimine (iminophosphorane) RN=PR 3 under elimination of a nitrogen molecule. Phosphoranimines play an important role in synthetic organic chemistry and are useful precursors for a subsequent aza-Wittig approach, leading to various nitrogen-containing compounds. A theoretical study shows the polarity, and consequently, the reactivity of the N=P bond to be dependent on the nature of the phosphorus substituents. ... 

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