Nitrogen trifluoride metal complexes

One of the many important differences between phosphorus and nitrogen chemistry is the relative strengths of their bonds to hydrogen. The relatively weak P—H bond means that this functionality can be added across a wide variety of unsaturated molecules (alkenes, alkynes, carbonyls) and hence this represents an excellent method for preparing tertiary phosphines. The addition of P 11 compounds to C=0 and C=N has been described in detail by Gilheany and Mitchell.2 The reaction can be catalyzed by base (potassium hydroxide, butyllithium), acid (HC1, carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, boron trifluoride), free radical (uv, organic peroxides, AIBN) or metal (simple metal salts, late transition-metal complexes). In some circumstances no catalyst is required at all for P 11 additions to proceed.60... 

More recently these volatile complexes have also been made by metal vapor syntheses (method B) in which vapors of the metals were cocondensed with NO, PF3, and boron trifluoride at liquid nitrogen temperature. The method also afforded [Mn(NO)3(PF3)], however, it is important to point out that in the absence of BF3 the condensate exploded violently on warming a little above — 196°C (257). 

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