N-Diphenylphosphanyl-N-{[diphenyl(2-pyridylimino)-λ5-phosphanyl]methyl}pyridin-2-amine

In the title compound, C35H30N4P2, the diphenylphosphanyl and diphenyl(2-pyridylimino)-λ5-phosphanyl groups are attached to the central methyl C atom with a P—C—N angle of 114.09 (16)°. The molecules stack along the b axis and interconnect through C—H(pyridyl)⋯N(pyridyl) interactions, forming an infinite chain structure. The parallel chains are further interconnected via C—H(benzene)⋯N(amino) and C—H(benzene)⋯π interactions, forming a three-dimensional framework.

In the title compound, C 35 H 30 N 4 P 2 , the diphenylphosphanyl and diphenyl(2-pyridylimino)-5 -phosphanyl groups are attached to the central methyl C atom with a P-C-N angle of 114.09 (16) . The molecules stack along the b axis and interconnect through C-H(pyridyl)Á Á ÁN(pyridyl) interactions, forming an infinite chain structure. The parallel chains are further interconnected via C-H(benzene)Á Á ÁN(amino) and C-H(benzene)Á Á Á interactions, forming a three-dimensional framework.

Experimental
To a solution of 0.4g (0.1 mmol) N-((pyridin-2-ylamino)methyl)pyridind-2-amine in 40 ml CH 2 Cl 2 at room temperature a solution of 0.45 g (0.2 mmol) chlorodiphenylphosphine in the presence of Et 3 N in 10 ml toluene was added dropwise, during which N 2 gas evolved. After 2 h stirring the resultant yellow solution was evaporated, giving a white powder. The white powder was then separated and purified by column chromatography on silica gel (column of 2 cm diameter, eluent: dichloromethane/acetate = 95:5, v/v), and the title compound was obtained in 60% yield. Orange crystals of the title compound having average dimensions of 0.40 × 0.30 × 0.20 mm 3 were obtained by slow evaporation from a solution of dichloromethane/N,N-dimethylformamide 1/1 (v/v).

Refinement
The hydrogen atoms were placed in idealized positions and allowed to ride on the relevant carbon atoms, with C-H = 0.93 Å and 0.97 Å for aryl and methylene hydrogens, respectively. U iso (H) = 1.2U eq (C).

Special details
Geometry. All esds (except the esd in the dihedral angle between two l.s. planes) are estimated using the full covariance matrix. The cell esds are taken into account individually in the estimation of esds in distances, angles and torsion angles; correlations between esds in cell parameters are only used when they are defined by crystal symmetry. An approximate (isotropic) treatment of cell esds is used for estimating esds involving l.s. planes.
Refinement. Refinement of F 2 against ALL reflections. The weighted R-factor wR and goodness of fit S are based on F 2 , conventional R-factors R are based on F, with F set to zero for negative F 2 . The threshold expression of F 2 > 2sigma(F 2 ) is used only for calculating R-factors(gt) etc. and is not relevant to the choice of reflections for refinement. R-factors based on F 2 are statistically about twice as large as those based on F, and R-factors based on ALL data will be even larger.