Theoretical study of a derivative of chlorophosphine with aliphatic and aromatic Grignard reagents: SN2@P or the novel SN2@Cl followed by SN2@C?

The proposed SN2 reactions of a hindered organophosphorus reactant with aliphatic and aromatic nucleophiles [Ye et al., Org. Lett., 2017, 19, 5384–5387] were studied theoretically in order to explain the observed stereochemistry of the products.

Latent Nucleophilic Carbenes

Using DFT and ab initio calculations, we demonstrate that noncyclic formamidines can undergo thermal rearrangement into their isomeric aminocarbenes under rather mild conditions. We synthesized the silylformamidine, for which the lowest activation energy in this process was predicted. Experimental studies proved it to serve as a very reactive nucleophilic carbene. The reactions with acetylenes, benzenes, and trifluoromethane proceeded via insertion into sp, sp², and sp³ CH bonds. The carbene also reacted with the functional groups, such as CHO, COR, and CN at double or triple bonds, displaying high mobility of the trimethylsilyl group. The obtained silylformamidine can be considered as a latent nucleophilic carbene. It can be prepared in bulk quantities, stored, and used when the need arises. Calculation results predict similar behavior for some other silylated formamidines and related compounds.

Dichlorophosphoranides Stabilized by Formamidinium Substituents

Dichlorophosphoranides featuring N,N-dimethyl-N′-arylformamidine substituents were isolated as individual compounds. Dichlorophosphoranide 9 was prepared by the multicomponent reaction of C-trimethylsilyl-N,N-dimethyl-N′-phenylformamidine and N,N-dimethyl-N′-phenylformamidine with phosphorus trichloride. Its molecular structure derived from a single-crystal X-ray diffraction was compared to the analogous dibromophosphoranide prepared previously by us by the reaction of phosphorus tribromide with N,N-dimethyl-N′-phenylformamidine. It was shown that a chlorophosphine featuring two N,N-dimethyl-N′-mesitylformamidine substituents reacted with hydrogen chloride to form dichlorophosphoranide 11. Its molecular structure was also determined by X-ray analysis and compared with that of closely related dichlorophosphoranide C.

Catalysis with Pnictogen, Chalcogen, and Halogen Bonds

Halogen‐ and chalcogen‐based σ‐hole interactions have recently received increased interest in non‐covalent organocatalysis. However, the closely related pnictogen bonds have been neglected. In this study, we introduce conceptually simple, neutral, and monodentate pnictogen‐bonding catalysts. Solution and in silico binding studies, together with high catalytic activity in chloride abstraction reactions, yield compelling evidence for operational pnictogen bonds. The depth of the σ holes is easily varied with different substituents. Comparison with homologous halogen‐ and chalcogen‐bonding catalysts shows an increase in activity from main group VII to V and from row 3 to 5 in the periodic table. Pnictogen bonds from antimony thus emerged as by far the best among the elements covered, a finding that provides most intriguing perspectives for future applications in catalysis and beyond.

Tandem dihetero-Diels–Alder and Huisgen cycloaddition reactions. Synthesis, crystal structure and hydrolysis of the novel cage phosphoranes

The reaction of 2-(1-phenylvinyloxy)benzo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphole with activated carbonyl compounds leads to the stereoselective formation of cage phosphoranes.