Photochemical Incorporation of Diphosphorus Units into Organic Molecules

Frustrated Lewis Pair Adduct of Atomic P(-1) as a Source of Phosphinidenes (PR), Diphosphorus (P2 ), and Indium Phosphide

We report phosphinidenes (PR) stabilized by an intramolecular frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chelate. These adducts include the parent phosphinidene, PH, which is accessed via thermolysis of coordinated HPCO. The reported FLP-PH species acts as a springboard to other phosphorus-containing compounds, such as FLP-adducts of diphosphorus (P₂ ) and InP₃ . Our new adducts participate in thermal- or light-induced phosphinidene elimination (of both PH and PR, R=organic group), transfer P₂ units to an organic substrate, and yield the useful semiconductor InP at only 110 °C from solution.

Diphosphorus Release and Heterocumulene Oligomerisation by Nickel Complexes

The generation of diphosphorus molecules P2 under mild conditions in solution is a useful strategy to generate diphosphines via [4+2] cycloadditions. We recently described the release of P2 units from the nickel butterfly complex [{(IMes)Ni(CO)}2(μ2,η2:η2-P2)] (IMes=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) upon addition of CO gas. Herein, we developed an alternative protocol for the same process using heterocumulenes. In addition to formation of P4 (the dimerisation product of P2), the reactions afford nickel complexes of novel pincer-type ligands. Aryl isothiocyanates undergo a trimerisation within the coordination sphere of nickel and afford square planar nickel complexes with S-C-S pincer-ligand frameworks. Carbon disulfide coordinates to the [(IMes)Ni]-fragment in an η2-fashion, affording a dinuclear complex. Similar products are formed when the N-heterocyclic carbene nickel(0) complex [(IMes)Ni(vtms)2] is used as a precursor (vtms=vinyltrimethylsilane).

Fragmentation Mechanism of White Phosphorus: A Theoretical Insight into Multiple Cleavage/Formation of P-P and P-C Bonds

Molecular-level understanding of metal-mediated white phosphorus (P₄ ) activation is meaningful but challenging because of its direct relevance to the conversion of P₄ into useful organophosphorus compounds as well as the complicated and unforeseeable cleavage process of P-P bonds. The related study, however, has still rarely been achieved to date. Here, a theoretical insight into the step-by-step process of three P-P bond cleavage/four P-C bond formation for [P₃ +P₁ ]-fragmentation of P₄ mediated by lutetacyclopentadienes is reported. The unique charge-separated intermediate and the intermolecular cooperation between two lutetacyclopentadienes play a vital role in the subsequent P-P/P-C bond breaking/forming. It is found that, although the first P-C formation is involved in the assembly of the cyclo-P₃ [R₄ C₄ P₃ ]^- unit, the construction of the aromatic five-membered P₁ heterocycle [R₄ C₄ P]^- is completed prior to the cyclo-P₃ formation. The reaction mechanism has been carefully elucidated by analyses of the geometric structure, frontier molecular orbitals, bond index, and natural charge, which greatly broaden and enrich the general knowledge of the direct functionalization of P₄ .

Functionalization of P4 through Direct P-C Bond Formation

Research on chlorine-free conversions of P4 into organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) has a long track record, but methods that allow desirable, direct P-C bond formations have only recently emerged. These include the use of metal organyls, carbenes, carboradicals, and photochemical approaches. The versatile product scope enables the preparation of both industrially relevant organophosphorus compounds, as well as a broad range of intriguing new compound classes. Herein we provide a concise overview of recent breakthroughs and outline the acquired fundamental insights to aid future developments.

Synthesis, structure and dispersion interactions in bis(1,8-naphthalendiyl)distibine

Naph₂Sb₂1 was synthesized by a reaction of 1,8-dilithionaphthalene NaphLi₂ with SbCl₃ and its solid state structure is reported on. 1 shows intermolecular interactions in the solid state, which were studied by quantum chemical calculations with dispersion corrected density functional theory, supermolecular ab initio approaches and symmetry adapted perturbation theory. The same methods were employed to compare the solid state interactions in the crystal of 1 to those in real (for E = P) and hypothetical (for E = As and Bi) crystal structures of Naph₂E₂. Dispersion interactions were found to provide the most important stabilising contribution in all cases, seconded by electrostatic attraction between pnictogen atoms and π-systems of neighbouring naphthyl groups.

Reactivity Studies on a Diazadiphosphapentalene

The reactivity of diazadiphosphapentalene 1 towards various substrates was investigated. Reaction of 1 with ammonia-borane resulted in transfer hydrogenolysis concomitantly with the cleavage of a P-N bond. By treatment of 1 with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO), oxidation took place at one of the phosphorus atoms of 1, and a P(V) /P(III) mixed-valence derivative was isolated. At the same time, it was demonstrated that only one of the phosphorus atoms in 1 behaves as an electron donor for electrophiles and Lewis acids. The former afforded an intramolecularly coordinated phosphine-phosphenium species, whereas the latter demonstrates the ligand property of 1. UV irradiation induced rearrangement of 1 into another example of another diazadiphosphapentalene.

Low-Temperature Isolation of the Bicyclic Phosphinophosphonium Salt [Mes*2P4Cl][GaCl4]

The reaction of [ClP(μ-PMes*)]2 (1) with the Lewis acid GaCl3 yielded a hitherto unknown tetraphosphabicyclo[1.1.0]butan-2-ium salt, [Mes*P4(Cl)Mes*][GaCl4] (3[GaCl4]), which incorporates a positively charged phosphonium center within its bicyclic P4 scaffold. The formation of the title compound was studied by means of low-temperature NMR experiments. This led to the identification of an intermediate cyclotetraphosphenium cation, which was trapped by reaction with dimethylbutadiene (dmb). All of the compounds were fully characterized by experimental and computational methods.

Selective functionalization of P₄ by metal-mediated C-P bond formation

A new and selective one-step synthesis was developed for the first activation stage of white phosphorus by organic radicals. The reactions of NaCp(R) with P4 in the presence of CuX or FeBr3 leads to the clean formation of organic substituted P4 butterfly compounds Cp(R)2P4 (Cp(R): Cp(BIG)=C5(4-nBuC6H4)5 (1 a), Cp'''=C5H2tBu3 (1 b), Cp*=C5Me5 (1 c) und Cp(4iPr)=C5HiPr4 (1 d)). The reaction proceeds via the activation of P4 by Cp(R) radicals mediated by transition metals. The newly formed organic derivatives of P4 have been comprehensively characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.