A spirocyclic P-S cage cation: synthesis and formation of P7S6I2+

Recent highlights in mixed-coordinate oligophosphorus chemistry

This review aims to highlight and comprehensively summarize recent developments in the field of mixed-coordinate phosphorus chemistry. Particular attention is focused on the synthetic approaches to compounds containing at least two directly bonded phosphorus atoms in different coordination environments and their unexpected properties that are derived from spectroscopic and crystallographic data. Novel substance classes are discussed in order to supplement previous reviews about mixed-coordinate phosphorus compounds.

Homoleptic borates and aluminates containing the difluorophosphato ligand – [M(O2PF2)x]y− – synthesis and characterization

A new class of WCAs…? The difluoro-phosphato ligand (O₂PF₂) was used for the synthesis of borates and aluminates of the [M(O₂PF₂)_x]^y−-type in order to generate weakly coordinating anions.

The chemistry of cationic polyphosphorus cages--syntheses, structure and reactivity

The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive view of the chemistry of cationic polyphosphorus cages.

The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive view of the chemistry of cationic polyphosphorus cages. The synthetic protocols established for their preparation, which are all based on the functionalization of P₄, and their intriguing follow-up chemistry are highlighted. In addition, this review intends to foster the interest of the inorganic, organic, catalytic and material oriented chemical communities in the versatile field of polyphosphorus cage compounds. In the long term, this is envisioned to contribute to the development of new synthetic procedures for the functionalization of P₄ and its transformation into (organo-)phosphorus compounds and materials of added value.

Exploring the chemistry of free CI3+: reactions with the weak Lewis bases PX3 (X = Cl-I), AsI3 and Et2O

What is the preferred coordination site of CI3+? Recent computational work suggested the iodine atoms of the Lewis acid CI3+ to be more electrophilic than the classically expected carbon atom, e.g. the complex with water is of type I2C-I...OH2+ and not the classically expected I3C-OH2+. If this structure is correct, one may also anticipate reactions of CI3+ as an I+ donor. Thus, we were interested in investigating the chemistry of CI3+ in the room-temperature stable salt [CI3]+[pftb](-) ([pftb](-) = [Al(OC(CF3)3)4]-) with weak nucleophiles that i) mimic water (OEt2) or ii) are electronically deactivated weak nucleophiles (PX3, X = Cl-I; AsI3). One question was: is it possible to obtain iodine-coordinated Lewis acid-base adducts of the CI3+ cation? With Et2O as a base, the cation behaves as a strong Lewis acid and cleaves the ether to give I3C-OEt, C2H4 and [H(Et2O)2]+. By contrast PX3 and AsI3 coordinate to the CI3+ cations and the adducts have classical, carbon-bound ethane-like structures, as proven by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, IR, UV-Vis and NMR spectroscopy. From variable temperature 13C NMR studies, it followed for the I3C-AsI3+ salt that the equilibrium between CI3+ and AsI3 is reversible and temperature dependent in solution. The I3C-PI3+ salt decomposes at room temperature giving PI4+ and C2I4, likely through an iodine coordinated I2C-I[dot dot dot]PI3+ intermediate. Thus CI3+ may also act as an I+ donor. All reactions are in agreement with ab initio quantum chemical calculations at the MP2/TZVPP level and assignments of experimental spectra were aided by quantum chemistry.