Tris(2-pyridyl)phosphine

Abstract

C₁₅H₁₂N₃P, M(r)= 265·3, monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 9·162 (1), b = 9·163 (1), c = 16·071 (2) Å, β = 100·92 (1)°, U = 1325 (2) ų, D(m) (by flotation) = 1·33 (1), D(x) = 1·330 Mg m⁻³ for Z = 4, Mo Kα radiation, λ = 0·7107 Å, μ = 0·153 mm⁻¹, F(OOO) = 552, T= 293 (2) K, R = 0·046 for 2041 observed reflections. The P-atom environment is pyramidal with P-C bond distances of 1·834 (3), 1·824 (3) and 1·826 (2) Å and C-P-C angles of 102·7(1), 101·9 (1) and 101·0 (1)°. The orientations of the rings are such that there is a significant deviation from C₃(v) symmetry; one of the N atoms is directed to the same side of the molecule as the p(IlI) lone pair of electrons, while the remaining two N atoms point in the opposite direction. The P atom is almost coplanar with each of the rings [max. deviation 0·0420 (6) Å] and the dihedral angles between the planes through the N(I)-C(5), N(2)C( 10) and N(3)-C(I5) groups are 87·8, 97·0 and 97·5° respectively.