Borane-Stabilized Isomeric Dimers of the Phosphaethynolate Anion

Reactivity of the phosphaethynolate anion with stabilized carbocations: mechanistic studies and synthetic applications

The reactivity of sodium phosphaethynolate Na(OCP) towards various Mayr's reference electrophiles was investigated using conventional UV-visible and laser-flash photolysis techniques. The kinetic data, along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, enabled the first experimental quantification of the phosphorus nucleophilicity of [OCP]-. Product studies of these reactions demonstrate the formation of secondary as well as tertiary phosphines. The mechanism of this unprecedented phosphorus-atom transfer reaction is thoroughly discussed, with key intermediates successfully isolated and characterized. Importantly, some bulky secondary phosphine oxides synthesized using this approach, have demonstrated high efficiency as ligands in the Suzuki coupling reaction.

Softer Is Better for Titanium: Molecular Titanium Arsenido Anions Featuring Ti≡As Bonding and a Terminal Parent Arsinidene

We introduce the arsenido ligand onto the TiIV ion, yielding a remarkably covalent Ti≡As bond and the parent arsinidene Ti═AsH moiety. An anionic arsenido ligand is assembled via reductive decarbonylation involving the discrete TiII salt [K(cryptand)][(PN)2TiCl] (1) (cryptand = 222-Kryptofix) and Na(OCAs)(dioxane)1.5 in thf/toluene to produce the mixed alkali ate-complex [(PN)2Ti(As)]2(μ2-KNa(thf)2) (2) and the discrete salt [K(cryptand)][(PN)2Ti≡As] (3) featuring a terminal Ti≡As ligand. Protonation of 2 or 3 with various weak acids cleanly forms the parent arsinidene [(PN)2Ti═AsH] (4), which upon deprotonation with KCH2Ph in thf generates the more symmetric anionic arsenido [(PN)2Ti(As){μ2-K(thf)2}]2 (5). Experimental and computational studies suggest the pKa of 4 to be ∼23, and the bond orders in 2, 3, and 5 are all in the range of a Ti≡As triple bond, with decreasing bond order in 4.

Isolation of an Anionic Dicarbene Embedded Sn2 P2 Cluster and Reversible CO2 Uptake

Decarbonylation of a cyclic bis-phosphaethynolatostannylene [(ADC)Sn(PCO)]2 based on an anionic dicarbene framework (ADC = PhC{N(Dipp)C}2 ; Dipp = 2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 ) under UV light results in the formation of a Sn2 P2 cluster compound [(ADC)SnP]2 as a green crystalline solid. The electronic structure of [(ADC)SnP]2 is analyzed by quantum-chemical calculations. At room temperature, [(ADC)SnP]2 reversibly binds with CO2 and forms [(ADC)2 {SnOC(O)P}SnP]. [(ADC)SnP]2 enables catalytic hydroboration of CO2 and reacts with elemental selenium and Fe2 (CO)9 to afford [(ADC)2 {Sn(Se)P2 }SnSe] and [(ADC)Sn{Fe(CO)4 }P]2 , respectively. All compounds are characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and their solid-state molecular structures are determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Stannyl phosphaketene as a synthon for phosphorus analogues of β-lactams

The reaction of the stannyl phosphaketene (Nacnac)SnPCO 1 (Nacnac = CH{(CMe)(2,6-iPr2C6H3N)}2) with B(C6F5)3 produced the 1,4-addition product of (Nacnac)SnPCO(B(C6F5)3). However, the corresponding reactions in the presence of dimethyl maleate, diisopropyl fumarate or diethyl-but-2-ynedioate gave [2+2] addition yielding four-membered phosphacycles, ((Nacnac)Sn(MeO2C))CHPC(OB(C6F5)3)CH(CO2Me), [(C6F5)3B)PC(OSn)C(CO2Me)CH(CO2Me)]2, (Nacnac)Sn(iPrO2C)CC(OAl(C6F5)3)P[CH(CO2iPr)CH2(CO2iPr)]CH(CO2iPr), and (Nacnac)SnP (EtO2CCC(CO2Et))CO(B(C6F5)3), respectively. In contrast, the corresponding reaction of phenylacetylene gave the FLP-addition product (Nacnac)SnOC(P)C(Ph)CH(B(C6F5)3). Collectively, this reactivity demonstrates that the stannyl phosphaketene 1 can act as a synthon for P-analogues of β-lactam derivatives.

The Varied Frustrated Lewis Pair Reactivity of the Germylene Phosphaketene (CH{(CMe)(2,6‐ i Pr 2 C 6 H 3 N)} 2 )GePCO

The germylene species (CH{(CMe)(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃N)}₂)GePCO 1 is shown to react with the Lewis acids (E(C₆F₅)₃ E=B, Al). Nonetheless, 1 participates in FLP chemistry with electron deficient alkynes or olefins, acting as an intramolecular FLP. In contrast, in the presence of B(C₆F₅)₃ and an electron rich alkyne, 1 behaves as Ge‐based nucleophile to effect intermolecular FLP addition to the alkyne. This reactivity demonstrates that the reaction pathway is controlled by the nature of the electrophile and nucleophile generated in solution, as revealed by extensive DFT calculations.

Recent advances in the chemistry of the phosphaethynolate and arsaethynolate anions

Over the past decade, the reactivity of 2-phosphaethynolate (OCP^-), a heavier analogue of the cyanate anion, has been the subject of momentous interest in the field of modern organometallic chemistry. It is used as a precursor to novel phosphorus-containing heterocycles and as a ligand in decarbonylative processes, serving as a synthetic equivalent of a phosphinidene derivative. This perspective aims to describe advances in the reactivities of phosphaethynolate and arsaethynolate anions (OCE^-; E = P, As) with main-group element, transition metal, and f-block metal scaffolds. Further, the unique structures and bonding properties are discussed based on spectroscopic and theoretical studies.

Adducts of the Parent Boraphosphaketene H2 BPCO and their Decarbonylative Insertion Chemistry

The first examples of Lewis base adducts of the parent boraphosphaketene (H2 B-PCO) and their cyclodimers are prepared. One of these adducts is shown to undergo mild decarbonylation and phosphinidene insertion into a B-C bond of a borole, forming very rare examples of 1,2-phosphaborinines, B/P isosteres of benzene. The strong donor properties of these 1,2-phosphaborinines are confirmed by the synthesis of their π complexes with the Group 6 metals.

Phosphine Carboxylate-Probing the Edge of Stability of a Carbon Dioxide Adduct with Dihydrogenphosphide

We present a new adduct of carbon dioxide with dihydrogenphosphide, that may be prepared either by direct reaction of NaPH₂ with carbon dioxide or by hydrolysis of the phosphaethynolate ion (PCO^- ). In this hydrolysis transformation, a new mechanism is proposed for the electrophilic reactivity of the phosphaethynolate ion. Protonation to form phosphine carboxylic acid (PH₂ COOH) and functionalization to form esters is shown to increase the strength of the P-C interaction, allowing for comparisons to be drawn between this species and the analogous carbamic (NH₂ COOH) and carbonic acids (H₂ CO₃ ). Functionalization of the oxygen atom is found to stabilize the phosphine carboxylate while also allowing solubility in organic solvents whereas phosphorus functionalization is shown to facilitate decarboxylation. Substituent migration occurs in some cases.

Linkage Isomerism Leading to Contrasting Carboboration Chemistry: Access to Three Constitutional Isomers of a Borylated Phosphaalkene

We describe the reactivity of two linkage isomers of a boryl-phosphaethynolate, [B]OCP and [B]PCO (where [B]=N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,3,2-diazaboryl), towards tris- (pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF). These reactions afforded three constitutional isomers all of which contain a phosphaalkene core. [B]OCP reacts with BCF through a 1,2 carboboration reaction to afford a novel phosphaalkene, E-[B]O{(C6 F5 )2 B}C=P(C6 F5 ), which subsequently undergoes a rearrangement process involving migration of both the boryloxy and pentafluorophenyl substituents to afford Z-{(C6 F5 )2 B}(C6 F5 )C=PO[B]. By contrast, [B]PCO undergoes a 1,3-carboboration process accompanied by migration of the N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,3,2-diazaboryl to the carbon centre.

1,3,4-Azadiphospholides as building blocks for scorpionate and bidentate ligands in multinuclear complexes

Annulated oxy-substituted 1,3,4-azadiphospholides such as the anion in Na[1] are readily accessible phosphorus heterocycles made from the phosphaethynolate anion (OCP)- and 2-chloropyridines. The sodium salt Na[1] reacts with oxophilic element halides such as OPCl3, PhSiCl3, PhBCl2 and CpTiCl3 at room temperature to form exclusively the oxygen bound tris-substituted compounds E(1)3 (with E = OP, PhSi, PhB- or CpTi). Six equivalents of Na[1] with group four metal chlorides MCl4 (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) form cleanly the hexa-substituted dianions (Na2[M(1)6]) which are isolated in excellent yields. The titanium complexes are deeply coloured species due to ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT) excitations. In all complexes, the phosphorus atoms of the azadiphosphole moieties are able to coordinate to a soft metal center as shown in their reactions with [Mo(CO)3Mes], yielding complexes in which the Mo(CO)3 binds in a fac manner. Functionalization of the oxy group with amino phosphanes allows isolation of tridentate ligands, which have been used as synthons for macrocyclic molybdenum carbonyl complexes.

B(C6 F5 )3 -Enabled Synthesis of a Cyclic cis-Arsaphosphene

The synthesis and characterization of an (arsino)phosphaketene, As(PCO){[N(Dipp)](CH₂ )}₂ (Dipp=2,6-diisopropylphenyl) is reported along with its subsequent reactivity with B(C₆ F₅ )₃ . When reacted in a stoichiometric ratio, B(C₆ F₅ )₃ drove the insertion of the P=C bond of the phosphaketene into one of the As-N bonds of the arsino functionality, affording an acid-stabilized, seven-membered, cyclic arsaphosphene. In contrast, when catalytic amounts of B(C₆ F₅ )₃ were employed, dimeric species, which formed through a formal [2+2] cycloaddition of the cyclic arsaphosphene, were generated. The cyclic arsaphosphene product represents the first example of such a compound in which the two substituents are arranged in a cis-configuration.

Salen supported Al–O–CP and Ga–PCO complexes

The synthesis and reactivity of salen supported OCP adducts of aluminium and gallium is reported.

Quantum Chemical Calculations on CHOP Derivatives-Spanning the Chemical Space of Phosphinidenes, Phosphaketenes, Oxaphosphirenes, and COP- Isomers

After many decades of intense research in low-coordinate phosphorus chemistry, the advent of Na[OCP] brought new stimuli to the field of CHOP isomers and derivatives thereof. The present theoretical study at the CCSD(T)/def2-TZVPP level describes the chemical space of CHOP isomers in terms of structures and potential energy surfaces, using oxaphosphirene as the starting point, but also covering substituted derivatives and COP- isomers. Bonding properties of the P⁻C, P⁻O, and C⁻O bonds in all neutral and anionic isomeric species are discussed on the basis of theoretical calculations using various bond strengths descriptors such as WBI and MBO, but also the Lagrangian kinetic energy density per electron as well as relaxed force constants. Ring strain energies of the superstrained 1H-oxaphosphirene and its barely strained oxaphosphirane-3-ylidene isomer were comparatively evaluated with homodesmotic and hyperhomodesmotic reactions. Furthermore, first time calculation of the ring strain energy of an anionic ring is described for the case of oxaphosphirenide.

The Chemistry of the 2-Phosphaethynolate Anion

In all likelihood the first synthesis of the phosphaethynolate anion, PCO^- , was performed in 1894 when NaPH₂ was reacted with CO in an attempt to make Na(CP) accompanied by elimination of water. This reaction was repeated 117 years later when it was discovered that Na(OCP) and H₂ are the products of this remarkable transformation. Li(OCP) was synthesized and fully characterized in 1992 but this salt proved to be too unstable to allow for a detailed investigation of its chemistry. It was not until the heavier analogues of this lithium salt were isolated, Na(OCP) and K(OCP) (both of which are remarkably stable and can be even dissolved in water), that the chemistry of this new functional group could be explored. Here we review the chemistry of the 2-phosphaethynolate anion, a heavier phosphorus-containing analogue of the cyanate anion, and describe the wide breadth of chemical transformations for which it has been thus far employed. Its use as a ligand, in decarbonylative and deoxygenative processes, and as a building block for novel heterocycles is described. In the mere twenty-six years since Becker first reported the isolation of this remarkable anion, it has become a fascinating reagent for the synthesis of a vast library of, often unprecedented, molecules and compounds.