Comparative Reactivity of the (Trimethylsilyl)phosphines (Me3Si)3-nPHn (n = 1,2) in Radical Reactions

Photochemical Alkene Hydrophosphination with Bis(trichlorosilyl)phosphine

Bis(trichlorosilyl)phosphine (HP(SiCl₃)₂, 1) was prepared from [TBA][P(SiCl₃)₂] ([TBA]2, TBA = tetra-n-butylammonium) and triflic acid in 36% yield. Phosphine 1 is an efficient reagent for hydrophosphination of unactivated terminal olefins under UV irradiation (15-60 min) and gives rise to bis(trichlorosilyl)alkylphosphines (RP(SiCl₃)₂, R = (CH₂)₅CH₃, 88%; (CH₂)₇CH₃, 98%; (CH₂)₂C(CH₃)₃, 76%; CH₂Cy, 93%; (CH₂)₂Cy, 95%; CH₂CH(CH₃)(CH₂)₂CH₃, 82%; (CH₂)₃O(CH₂)₃CH₃, 95%; (CH₂)₃Cl, 83%; (CH₂)₂SiMe₃, 92%; (CH₂)₅C(H)CH₂, 44%) in excellent yields. The products require no further purification beyond filtration and removal of volatile material under reduced pressure. The P-Si bonds of prototypical products RP(SiCl₃)₂ (R = -(CH₂)₅CH₃, -(CH₂)₇CH₃) are readily functionalized to give further phosphorus-containing products: H₃C(CH₂)₇PCl₂ (56%), [H₃C(CH₂)₅P(CH₂Ph)₃]Br (84%), H₃C(CH₂)₇PH₂ (61%), H₃C(CH₂)₅P(O)(H)(OH) (81%), and H₃C(CH₂)₅P(O)(OH)₂ (55%). Experimental mechanistic investigations, accompanied by quantum chemical calculations, point toward a radical-chain mechanism. Phosphine 1 enables the fast, high-yielding, and atom-efficient preparation of compounds that contain phosphorus-carbon bonds in procedures that bypass white phosphorus (P₄), a toxic and high-energy intermediate of the phosphorus industry.

Allosteric effects in asymmetric hydrogenation catalysis? Asymmetric induction as a function of the substrate and the backbone flexibility of C1-symmetric diphosphines in rhodium-catalysed hydrogenations

The new unsymmetrical, optically active ligands 1,2-C(2)H(4)(PPh(2))(2'R,5'R-2',5'-dimethylphospholanyl) (L(a)) and 1,3-C(3)H(6)(PPh(2))(2'R,5'R-2',5'-dimethylphospholanyl) (L(b)) form complexes of the type [Rh(L)(cyclooctadiene)][BF(4)] where L = L(a) (1a) or L(b) (1b), [PtCl(2)(L)] where L = L(a) (2a) or L(b) (2b) and [PdCl(2)(L)] where L = L(a) (3a) or Lb (3b). The crystal structures of 2a and 2b show the chelate ligand backbones adopt delta-twist and flattened chair conformations respectively. Asymmetric hydrogenation of enamides and dehydroaminoesters using 1a and 1b as catalysts show that the ethylene-backboned diphosphine L(a) gives a more efficient catalyst in terms of asymmetric induction than the propylene-backboned analogue L(b). The greatest enantioselectivities were obtained with 1a and enamide substrates with ees up to 91%. Substrate-induced conformational changes in the Rh-diphosphine chelates are proposed to explain some of the ees observed in the hydrogenation of enamides.

(Trimethylsilyl)phosphine as a Versatile Reagent for Syntheses of New 4-Sila- and 4-Phosphaphosphorinanes

(Trimethylsilyl)phosphine (Me(3)SiPH(2)) undergoes radical P-H bond addition to vinylphosphines and -silanes to form new 4-phospha- and 4-silaphosphorinanes [vinyl reagent]: [PhP(CH=CH(2))(2)], PhP(C(2)H(4))(2)PSiMe(3) diastereomers (9A/9B); [Et(2)NP(CH=CH(2))(2)], Et(2)NP(C(2)H(4))(2)PSiMe(3) (11); [Me(2)Si(CH=CH(2))(2)], Me(2)Si(C(2)H(4))(2)PSiMe(3) (14); [Si(CH=CH(2))(4)], (CH=CH(2))(2)Si(C(2)H(4))(2)PSiMe(3) (16) and [Me(3)SiP(C(2)H(4))(2)](2)Si (17). Reactions are accompanied by formation of only small quantities of the Markovnikov addition product phospholanes. Methanolysis of the new silylphosphines yields PhP(C(2)H(4))(2)PH diastereomers (10A/10B), Me(2)Si(C(2)H(4))PH (15), (CH=CH(2))(2)Si(C(2)H(4))(2)PH (18), and [HP(C(2)H(4))(2)](2)Si (19). Stepwise methanolysis of 11 yields the phosphorinanes Et(2)NP(C(2)H(4))(2)PH (12) and MeOP(C(2)H(4))(2)PH (13). Oxidation of 15 and 14 with O(2) or O(2)/H(2)O, respectively, yields the phosphine oxide Me(2)Si(C(2)H(4))(2)P(O)H (20) and the phosphinic acid Me(2)Si(C(2)H(4))(2)P(O)OH (21). New compounds were characterized by spectral ((31)P, (1)H, and (13)C NMR, IR, and MS) data. 21 was further characterized by a single-crystal X-ray analysis: monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 10.416(2) Å, b = 6.817(1) Å, c = 14.237(3) Å, beta = 106.32(2) degrees, Z = 4, V = 970.3(3) Å(3). The ring of 21 adopts a chair conformation with the P=O bond in an equatorial position. From spectral data, tentative isomeric and conformational structural assignments are made for the new phosphorinanes in solution.