A Monoaryllead Trichloride That Resists Reductive Elimination

Transmetallation of Pb(OAc)₄ with R₂ Hg (1), followed by treatment with HCl in Et₂ O, provided RPbCl₃ (2), the first kinetically stabilized monoorganolead trihalide that resists reductive elimination under ambient conditions. The kinetic stabilisation relies on an intramolecularly coordinating O-donor substituent (R=6-Ph₂ P(O)-Ace-5-). The gram-scale preparation of 2 was key for the synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted diaryllead dichlorides RR'PbCl₂ (3 a, R'=Ph; 3 b, R'=4-MeOC₆ H₄ ; 3 c, R'=4-Me₂ NC₆ H₄ ).