Photochemical E−Z Isomerization of meta-Terphenyl-Protected Phosphaalkenes and Structural Characterizations

Reversible Metal-Mediated Molecular Switching of a Phosphaethene Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon

This experimental and theoretical study illustrates how phosphaalkenes, which are isolobal to alkenes, can utilize a variety of external triggers for molecular switching. The E/Z isomerization of a truxene-based phosphaalkene, i. e. TruxC=P-Mes* (Mes*=2,4,6-tris-t-butyl-benzene), is accomplished by irradiation, metal coordination, or deprotonation of the truxene core. The reversible and quantitative Z/E double bond isomerization by gold(I) coordination/decoordination of the phosphorous lone pair represents a novel fuelling strategy for molecular switches.

Room temperature stable E,Z-diphosphenes: their isomerization, coordination, and cycloaddition chemistry

E,Z-isomers display distinct physical properties and chemical reactivities. However, investigations on heavy main group elements remain limited. In this work, we present the isolation and X-ray crystallographic characterization of N-heterocyclic vinyl (NHV) substituted diphosphenes as both E- and Z-isomers (L[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-P[double bond, length as m-dash]P-CH[double bond, length as m-dash]L, E,Z-2b; L = N-heterocyclic carbene). E-2b is thermodynamically more stable and undergoes reversible photo-stimulated isomerization to Z-2b. The less stable Z-isomer Z-2b can be thermally reverted to E-2b. Theoretical studies support the view that this E ↔ Z isomerization proceeds via P[double bond, length as m-dash]P bond rotation, reminiscent of the isomerization observed in alkenes. Furthermore, both E,Z-2b coordinate to an AuCl fragment affording the complex [AuCl(η2-Z-2b)] with the diphosphene ligand in Z-conformation, exclusively. In contrast, E,Z-2b undergo [2 + 4] and [2 + 1] cycloadditions with dienes or diazo compounds, respectively, yielding identical cycloaddition products in which the phosphorus bound NHV groups are in trans-position to each other. DFT calculations provide insight into the E/Z-isomerisation and stereoselective formation of Au(i) complexes and cycloaddition products.

The Phospha-Bora-Wittig Reaction

We report the phospha-bora-Wittig reaction for the direct preparation of phosphaalkenes from aldehydes, ketones, esters, or amides. The transient phosphaborene Mes*P═B-NR₂ reacts with carbonyl compounds to form 1,2,3-phosphaboraoxetanes, analogues of oxaphosphetane intermediates in the classical Wittig reaction. 1,2,3-Phosphaboraoxetanes undergo thermal or Lewis acid-promoted cycloreversion, yielding phosphaalkenes. Experimental and density functional theory studies reveal far-reaching similarities between classical and phospha-bora-Wittig reactions.

Two complementary approaches for the synthesis and isolation of stable phosphanylphosphaalkenes

A new series of compounds formed in a one-step  reaction (Phospha–Wittig  or phospha–Peterson), containing the CP–P moiety was synthesized and characterized. These species are stable under atmospheric conditions and are resistant to hydrolysis.

Synthesis of compounds with C-P-P and C[double bond, length as m-dash]P-P bond systems based on the phospha-Wittig reaction

A reactivity study of a β-diketiminate titanium(iii) phosphanylphosphido complex [^MeNacNacTi(Cl){η²-P(SiMe₃)-PtBu₂}] (1) towards ketones such as benzophenone, 9-fluorenone, acetophenone, cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone and cycloheptanone is reported. The reactions of 1 with aromatic ketones (without α-protons) directly lead to the Ti(iii) complex [^MeNacNacTi(μ²-Cl)(OSiMe₃)] (5) and Ti(iv) complexes with the pinacol condensation product [^MeNacNacTi(OSiMe₃)(η²-pinacolate)] (3), and phosphanylphosphaalkenes Ph₂C[double bond, length as m-dash]P-PtBu₂ (2) and (fluorenyl)C[double bond, length as m-dash]P-PtBu₂ (6), respectively. The reaction with acetophenone leads to the titanium(iii) complex with the aldol condensation product as ligand [^MeNacNacTi(Cl){OC{Me(Ph)}CH₂(C[double bond, length as m-dash]O)Ph}] (8) and in parallel to phosphanylphosphaalkene (Ph)MeC[double bond, length as m-dash]P-PtBu₂ (9) and 5. The reactions of 1 with cyclic ketones (cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone) lead to Ti(iii) complexes [{(ArN[double bond, length as m-dash]C(Me)CHC(Me)[double bond, length as m-dash]NAr)((CH₂)₄CO)}Ti(Cl){PtBu₂-P(SiMe₃)((CH₂)₄CO)}] (10) and [{(ArN[double bond, length as m-dash]C(Me)CHC(Me)[double bond, length as m-dash]NAr)((CH₂)₅CO)}Ti(Cl){PtBu₂-P(SiMe₃)((CH₂)₅CO)}] (11), which are formed via the successive insertion of two molecules of ketone to one molecule of 1. The stability investigation of complexes 10 and 11 in a polar solvent (THF) revealed that under these conditions, the complexes decompose, resulting in titanium(iii) complexes with aldol condensation products and the expected phosphanylphosphaalkenes (CH₂)₄C[double bond, length as m-dash]P-PtBu₂ (10a) and (CH₂)₅C[double bond, length as m-dash]P-PtBu₂ (11a). In the reaction of 1 with cycloheptanone, only the Ti(iii) complex with the aldol condensation product [^MeNacNacTi(Cl){OC(CH₂)₆}CH(C[double bond, length as m-dash]O)(CH₂)₅] (12) was isolated. The structures 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 11b and 12 were characterized by X-ray spectroscopy, while all the phosphanylphosphaalkenes were characterized by NMR spectroscopy.

Chemical- and light-induced isomerization of the P=C bond of a 1-phosphabutadiene

Treatment of Mes*P=C(Si(CH3)3)Br with CH2=CHMgBr in the presence of Pd(0) affords 1-phosphabutadiene Mes*P=C(Si(CH3)3)–CH=CH2 (1) selectively as the Z isomer. Remarkably, treatment of Z-1 with n-BuLi (0.1 equiv.) resulted in quantitative formation of E-1. The exact role of the n-BuLi is unknown; however, it appears to be required to promote the isomerization in the absence of light. The isomerization of Z-1 to E-1 was also mediated by sunlight with the reaction mixture consisting of a ca. 1:9 ratio of Z-1 to E-1. DFT calculations were consistent with the thermodynamic favorability of the isomerization of Z-1 to E-1.

Avenue to phosphaalkenes from Ph3GePCO

Reactions of Ph3GePCO with KP(t-Bu)2 and Ph3SiCl, or direct reaction with Ph3SiP(t-Bu)2 provides the (Z)- and (E)-isomers of the phosphaalkene (t-Bu2)PC(OSiPh3)P(GePh3) 2, respectively. These isomers interconvert thermally and photochemically, while 2 also undergoes silyl and phosphide exchange with silylphosphines, consistent with a mechanism involving the reversible silylphosphination of Ph3GePCO.

Core and double bond functionalisation of cyclopentadithiophene-phosphaalkenes

Opto-electronic tuning by functionalisation of phosphorus heterofulvenoid cores. Oxidation, metal coordination at phosphorus, and substitution with donor and acceptor units at the carbon framework.

E-Selective Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry of Pyridine-Phosphaalkenes: Five Ligands Produce Four Distinct Types of Ru(II) Complexes

Pyridine-phosphaalkene (PN) ligands 2a-e were prepared in an E-selective fashion using phospha-Wittig methodology. Treatment of these five ligands, varying only in their 6-substituent with RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃, produced four distinct types of coordination complexes: pyridine-phosphaalkene-derived 3b,d, cyclized 4e, and six-coordinate 5a and 6c. Prolonged heating of 3b,d in THF resulted in C-H activation of the Mes* group and cyclization to give 4b,d featuring a bidentate pyridine-phospholane ligand bound to the metal center. Complex 5a, also possessing a newly formed phospholane ring, contained a different spatial arrangement of donors to Ru(II) with an agostic Ru-H-C interaction serving as the sixth donor to the transition metal center. Ligands 2b,d,e and Ru(II) complexes 3b, 4b,e and 5a were all characterized by X-ray crystallography. Six-coordinate 6c featured a structure similar to 4b,d,e, but with the CF₃ substituent acting as a weakly bound sixth ligand to the Ru(II) center, as observed by ³¹P{¹H} and¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. The calculated structure of 6c established that the closest Ru- - -F contact was at 2.978 Å.

Direct, Sequential, and Stereoselective Alkynylation of C,C-Dibromophosphaalkenes

The first direct alkynylation of C,C-dibromophosphaalkenes by a reaction with sulfonylacetylenes is reported. Alkynylation proceeds selectively in the trans position relative to the P substituent to afford bromoethynylphosphaalkenes. Owing to the absence of transition metals in the procedure, the previously observed conversion of dibromophosphaalkenes into phosphaalkynes through the phosphorus analog of the Fritsch-Buttenberg-Wiechell rearrangement is thus suppressed. The bromoethynylphosphaalkenes can subsequently be converted to C,C-diacetylenic, cross-conjugated phosphaalkenes by following a Sonogashira coupling protocol in good overall yields. By using the newly described method, full control over the stereochemistry at the P=C double bond is achieved. The substrate scope of this reaction is demonstrated for different dibromophosphaalkenes as well as different sulfonylacetylenes.

Synthesis of the first metal-free phosphanylphosphonate and its use in the “phospha–Wittig–Horner” reaction

The synthesis of the first phophanylphosphonate, Mes*PH–PO(OEt)₂ (2-H), in which the P(iii) centre is not coordinated by a metal fragment is reported.

Phosphorus as a carbon copy and as a photocopy: New conjugated materials featuring multiply bonded phosphorus

Phosphaalkenes (RP=CR2) and diphosphenes (RP=PR) are main group analogues of alkenes (R2C=CR2). Molecules featuring such multiply bonded phosphorus functionalities often display structural features and chemical reactivities that mimic their purely organic counterparts, lending credence to the claim that these compounds are “carbon copies”. We have been expanding this analogy to include oligomers and polymers with extended conjugation that directly involve P=C and P=P units. Many of these materials, however, display little or no photoluminescence (PL). This article summarizes our efforts to understand P=C and P=P photobehavior and to produce materials having significant PL that mimic or “photocopy” the PL properties of the phosphorus-free systems. Recent materials based on benzoxaphospholes (BOPs), benzobisoxaphospholes (BBOPs), and higher analogues having significant fluorescence quantum yields are covered.