Uncommon Coordination Behaviour of P(S) and P(Se) Units when Bonded to Carboranyl Clusters: Experimental and Computational Studies on the Oxidation of Carboranyl Phosphine Ligands

Electronic versus steric control in palladium complexes of carboranyl phosphine-iminophosphorane ligands

A new family of carboranyl phosphine-iminophosphorane ligands was prepared and characterized. The new ligands present a carboranyl group directly attached to the iminophosphorane nitrogen atom through a cage carbon atom (C-carboranyl derivatives L1-L3) or through the B3 boron atom (B-carboranyl derivatives L4 and L5), and the phosphine group on a side chain derived from the diphosphine dppm, i.e. with a two-atom spacer between the P and N donor atoms. The non-carboranyl analogue L6, with a biphenyl group on the nitrogen atom, was also synthesized for comparison. These potential (P, N) ligands were used to obtain palladium complexes (Pd1-Pd6) and, thus, study how the different inductive effect of the carboranyl substituents can modify the coordinating ability of the nitrogen atom. The structural analysis of the complexes revealed two different coordination modes for the ligands: the (P, N) chelate coordination and the unexpected P-terminal coordination, which is not observed for non-carboranyl phosphine-iminophosphoranes. These unexpected structural differences led us to perform DFT calculations on the ligands and metal complexes. The calculations show that the final coordination modes depend on the balance between the electronic and steric properties of the particular carboranyl group.

Exploiting the Ring Strain of Diphosphetanes: A Synthetic and Computational Approach towards 1,2,5-Selenadiphospholanes

A carboranyl-based meso-1,2,5-selenadiphospholane diselenide was synthesised starting from a strained carborane-substituted 1,2-diphosphetane and subsequently reduced to an unprecedented carboranyl-based meso-1,2,5-selenadiphospholane. The electronic structure and the bonding situation for both compounds were investigated by density functional theory (DFT), Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analyses, Fractional Occupation Density (FOD) analysis, Complete Active Space Self Consistent Field (CASSCF) calculations and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations. Ring-opening reactions of meso-1,2,5-selenadiphospholane with nucleophiles and electrophiles are reported together with calculated reaction mechanisms (DFT level). Isolated compounds were characterised by NMR and IR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Deactivation of the coordinating ability of the iminophosphorane group by the effect of ortho-carborane

An electron-withdrawing carborane group deactivates the nitrogen donor atom of an iminophosphorane ligand, which is not observed for organic ligands.

Large, weakly basic bis(carboranyl)phosphines: an experimental and computational study

Bis(carboranyl)phosphines and their {AuCl} and {Se} derivatives have been the subject of experimental and computational studies.

Efficient synthesis of carborane azo derivatives and their reactivity

An iridium(iii)-catalyzed C–N-bond-forming direct synthesis of carborane azo derivatives was developed.

Inductive effects of 10 and 12-vertex closo-carborane anions: cluster size and charge make a difference

The inductive effects of 10 and 12-vertex closo-carborane anion ligand substituents are elucidated for the first time. It is found that both of these cluster substituents are potent electron donating groups, which is in contrast to C-functionalized o-carborane. The fact that the 10-vertex cluster displays the strongest electron donating ability can be rationalized by its charge and size.

Relaxed but highly compact diansa metallacyclophanes

A series of monoansa [μ-1,1'-PR-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(10))(2)](-) and diansa [8,8'-μ-(1'',2''-benzene)-μ-1,1'-PR-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(9))(2)](-) (R = Ph, (t)Bu) cobaltabisdicarbollidephanes have been synthesized, characterized and studied by NMR, MALDI-TOF-MS, UV-visible spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and DFT calculations. Single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed a highly relaxed structure characterized by the title angle α of 3.8° ([7](-)), this being the smallest angle α for a metallacyclophane. In such compounds, the metal-to-phosphorus distance is less than the sum of their van der Waals radii. The availability of a phosphorus lone pair causes an electron delocalization through the metal, as shown by the abnormal (31)P NMR chemical shift. Remarkably, the combination of a phosphine donor and a phenyl acceptor moieties causes a synergistic effect that is observed through the different techniques used in this study. The importance of having an available lone pair is demonstrated by the oxidation of phosphorus with hydrogen peroxide, sulfur, and elemental black selenium to produce the corresponding P(V) compounds. When the electron lone pair is used to form the bond with the corresponding chalcogen atom, the communication between the donor and acceptor moieties on the diansa metallacyclophane is shut down.