Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation by a Trivalent Phosphorus Compound: Phosphorus-Ligand Cooperation Pathway or PIII/PVRedox Pathway?

Electrophilic Fluorophosphonium Cations in Frustrated Lewis Pair Hydrogen Activation and Catalytic Hydrogenation of Olefins

The combination of phosphorus(V)-based Lewis acids with diaryl amines and diaryl silylamines promotes reversible activation of dihydrogen and can be further exploited in metal-free catalytic olefin hydrogenation. Combined experimental and density functional theory (DFT) studies suggest a frustrated Lewis pair type activation mechanism.

Main group catalysed reduction of unsaturated bonds

This Perspective article reviews the recent developments in reduction reactions catalysed by main-group element compounds.

Metal-free σ-bond metathesis in ammonia activation by a diazadiphosphapentalene

A diazadiphosphapentalene derivative 5 featuring a bent geometry with two phosphorus atoms at the bridgehead has been synthesized. Under mild conditions, compound 5 readily activated ammonia to afford 1-aza-2,3-diphospholene derivative 6 bearing an enamine group. The reaction is therefore viewed as a formal σ-bond metathesis between an N-H bond of ammonia and an endocyclic P-N bond of 5. Details of the reaction mechanism for ammonia activation as well as subsequent isomerization were explored by density functional theory calculations.