P4 activation by main group elements and compounds

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of H-phosphinate esters with chloroarenes

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between H-phosphinate esters and chloroarenes or chloroheteroarenes is described. This reaction is the first general metal-catalyzed phosphorus-carbon bond-forming reaction between a phosphorus nucleophile and chloroarenes.

Stable singlet carbenes as mimics for transition metal centers

This perspective summarizes recent results, which demonstrate that stable carbenes can activate small molecules (CO, H(2), NH(3) and P(4)) and stabilize highly reactive intermediates (main group elements in the zero oxidation state and paramagnetic species). These two tasks were previously exclusive for transition metal complexes.

Zwitterionic and cationic P(5)-clusters from four-membered phosphorus-nitrogen-metal heterocycles

A general route for the functionalization of P(4) mediated by four-membered phosphorus-nitrogen-metal heterocycles is introduced yielding novel phosphorus-rich clusters.

Solvent-free mesityllithium: solid-state structure and its reactivity towards white phosphorus

The donor-free mesityllithium was prepared from the reaction of MesBr with n-BuLi in diethyl ether at -78 degrees C. The solid-state structure of unsupported mesityllithium consists of C(2)Li(2)-rings composed of two LiMes units, which interact with adjacent dimers [LiMes](2), forming a polymeric infinite chain along the crystallographic c-axis (monoclinic space group, P2(1)/n). The structure of donor-free mesityllithium reveals short contacts between the C atoms of the mesityl rings and the lithium atoms of neighbouring [LiMes](2) units. The structure determination of LiMes was performed by X-ray powder diffraction. In addition we have investigated the reaction of LiMes with Me(3)SnCl and P(4) for our understanding of the reactivity of donor-free mesityllithium. The heterogeneous reaction of donor-free mesityllithium with Me(3)SnCl produces conveniently the stannylated mesitylene Me(3)SnMes (triclinic, space group P1). White phosphorus reacts with three equivalents of unsupported mesityllithium in benzene to give Li(3)P(4)Mes(3). In this context it should be noted that a tetraphosphide with an identical LiP-core as in Li(3)P(4)Mes(3) had been formed in the 1:3 reaction of P(4) with the silanide Li[SitBu(3)]. The tetraphosphide Li(3)P(4)Mes(3) was analyzed using X-ray crystallography (monoclinic, space group C2/c).