2,5-Diphenyl-3,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1-phosphacyclopentadienide as a Ligand at Calcium, Strontium, and Tin(II)

B-substituted group 1 phosphides: synthesis and reactivity

1-Boryl-8-phosphinonaphthalenes 1-BCy2-8-PCl2-C10H6 (1) and 1-BCy2-8-PPhCl-C10H6 (2) were prepared and used as starting materials for the synthesis of B-substituted phosphides. The reduction of 1 and 2 by Mg provided neutral compounds [1-BCy-8-PCy-C10H6]2 (3) and [1-BCy2-8-PPh-C10H6]2 (4). Compound 3 represents the dimer of phosphinoborane 1-BCy-8-PCy-C10H6 while complex 4 is a rare example of a discrete B ← P coordinated diphosphine. The reduction of 2 by Na or K in THF yielded B-substituted group 1 phosphides [Na(THF)3]+[1-BCy2-8-PPh-C10H6]- (5) and {[K(THF)2]+[1-BCy2-8-PPh-C10H6]-}∞ (6), which structurally resembled bulky group 1 phosphides. Complex 5 showed easy activation of elemental chalcogens E (E = O, S, Se) to give B-substituted chalcogenophosphinites {[Na(THF)2]+[1-BCy2-8-P(E)Ph-C10H6]}2 (E = O (7), S (8), Se (9)) as the products of chalcogen insertion into the P-Na bond. Importantly no oxidation to dichalcogenophosphinates was observed. Compound 5 is tolerant of the CO polar bonds in organic substrates and the reactions of 5 with 2,3-butanedione or an acyl chloride provided {[Na(THF)2]+[1-BCy2-8-P{CHC(O)C(Me)O}Ph-C10H6]-}2 (10) and [1-BCy2-8-P{C(O)tBu}Ph-C10H6] (11). Finally, B-coordinated phosphatetrylenes [1-BCy2-8-P(SnL)Ph-C10H6] (12) and [1-BCy2-8-P(PbL)Ph-C10H6] (13) (L is {2,6-(Me2NCH2)C6H3}-) were also prepared by substitution reactions of 5.

Facile Synthesis of the Dicyanophosphide Anion via Electrochemical Activation of White Phosphorus: An Avenue to Organophosphorus Compounds

Organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) have gained tremendous interest in the past decades due to their wide applications ranging from synthetic chemistry to materials and biological sciences. We describe herein a practical and versatile approach for the transformation of white phosphorus (P₄) into useful OPCs with high P atom economy via a key bridging anion [P(CN)₂]^-. This anion can be prepared on a gram scale directly from P₄ through an electrochemical process. A variety of OPCs involving phosphinidenes, cyclophosphanes, and phospholides have been made readily accessible from P₄ in a two-step manner. Our approach has a significant impact on the future preparation of OPCs in laboratory and industrial settings.

Benchmark study of popular density functionals for calculating binding energies of three-center two-electron bonds

Density functional theory (DFT) can be used to study the three-center two-electron (3c2e) bonding mode, which is universal in catalysts containing alkaline-earth (Ae) and boron-group (Bg) elements. However, because of the delocalization pattern of the 3c2e bond, the wavefunction cannot be accurately described by DFT methods. The calculated energies of Ae and Bg catalysts therefore fluctuate greatly when different functionals are used, largely because of inconsistent DFT-calculated binding energies of 3c2e bonds. Nevertheless, with the development of supercomputers and theoretical calculation software, the DFT method is becoming increasingly popular for studying Ae and Bg catalysts. In this study, we compared the performances of 21 functionals with the high-level composite G3B3 method in calculations for the binding energies of 3c2e bonds. Several frequently used post-Hartree-Fock methods were also tested. The calculation results indicate that the M06-2X, MN12-L, and MN15 functionals give consistent and reliable binding energies for common 3c2e bonds. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Direct Synthesis of Phospholyl Lithium from White Phosphorus

The selective construction of P-C bonds directly from P4 and nucleophiles is an ideal and step-economical approach to utilizing elemental P4 for the straightforward synthesis of organophosphorus compounds. In this work, a highly efficient one-pot reaction between P4 and 1,4-dilithio-1,3-butadienes was realized, which quantitatively affords phospholyl lithium derivatives. DFT calculations indicate that the mechanism is significantly different from that of the well-known stepwise cleavage of P-P bond in P4 activation. Instead, a cooperative nucleophilic attack of two Csp2 Li bonds on P4 , leading to simultaneous cleavage of two P-P bonds, is favorable. This mechanistic information offers a new view on the mechanism of P4 activation, as well as a reasonable explanation for the excellent yields and selectivity. This method could prove to be a useful route to P4 activation and the subsequent production of organophosphorus compounds.

Alkaline earths as main group reagents in molecular catalysis

The past decade has witnessed some remarkable advances in our appreciation of the structural and reaction chemistry of the heavier alkaline earth (Ae = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) elements. Derived from complexes of these metals in their immutable +2 oxidation state, a broad and widely applicable catalytic chemistry has also emerged, driven by considerations of cost and inherent low toxicity. The considerable adjustments incurred to ionic radius and resultant cation charge density also provide reactivity with significant mechanistic and kinetic variability as group 2 is descended. In an attempt to place these advances in the broader context of contemporary main group element chemistry, this review focusses on the developing state of the art in both multiple bond heterofunctionalisation and cross coupling catalysis. We review specific advances in alkene and alkyne hydroamination and hydrophosphination catalysis and related extensions of this reactivity that allow the synthesis of a wide variety of acyclic and heterocyclic small molecules. The use of heavier alkaline earth hydride derivatives as pre-catalysts and intermediates in multiple bond hydrogenation, hydrosilylation and hydroboration is also described along with the emergence of these and related reagents in a variety of dehydrocoupling processes that allow that facile catalytic construction of Si-C, Si-N and B-N bonds.

Intramolecular C-F and C-H bond cleavage promoted by butadienyl heavy Grignard reagents

Organomagnesium compounds (Grignard reagents) are among the most useful organometallic reagents and have greatly accelerated the advancement of synthetic chemistry and related sciences. Nevertheless, heavy Grignard reagents based on the metals calcium, strontium or barium are not widely used, mainly due to their rather inert heavy alkaline-earth metals and extremely high reactivity of their corresponding Grignard-type reagents. Here we report the generation and reaction chemistry of butadienyl heavy Grignard reagents whose extremely high reactivity is successfully tamed. Facile synthesis of perfluoro-π-extended pentalene and naphthalene derivatives is realized by the in situ generated heavy Grignard reagents via intramolecular C-F/C-H bond cleavage. These obtained perfluorodibenzopentalene and perfluorodinaphthopentalene derivatives show low-lying LUMO levels, with one being the lowest value so far among all pentalene derivatives. Our results set an exciting example for the meaningful synthetic application of heavy Grignard reagents.

Heterofunctionalization catalysis with organometallic complexes of calcium, strontium and barium

Despite the routine employment of Grignard reagents and Hauser bases as stoichiometric carbanion reagents in organic and inorganic synthesis, a defined reaction chemistry encompassing the heavier elements of Group II (M = Ca, Sr and Ba) has, until recently, remained unreported. This article provides details of the recent progress in heavier Group II catalysed small molecule transformations mediated by well-defined heteroleptic and homoleptic complexes of the form LMX or MX 2 ; where L is a mono-anionic ligand and X is a reactive σ-bonded substituent. The intra- and intermolecular heterofunctionalization (hydroamination, hydrophosphination, hydrosilylation and hydrogenation) of alkenes, alkynes, dienes, carbodiimides, isocyanates and ketones is discussed.

Heavy Grignard Reagents: Challenges and Possibilities of Aryl Alkaline Earth Metal Compounds

Compounds of the type aryl--M--X, with M=Ca, Sr, Ba and X as any kind of ligand (such as halide, phosphanide, amide, aryl), are presented. The low reactivity of the heavy alkaline earth metals calcium, strontium, and barium enforces an activation prior to use for the direct synthesis. The insertion of these metals into C--I bonds of aryl iodides (direct synthesis) yields aryl metal iodides and has to be performed at low temperatures and in THF. Aryl alkaline-earth-metal compounds show some characteristics: 1) the ease of ether cleavage enforces low reaction temperatures, 2) for Sr and Ba the Schlenk equilibrium is shifted towards homoleptic MI2 and MPh2, 3) high solubility of diaryl alkaline-earth-metal derivatives in THF even at low temperatures initiated quantum chemical investigations on the aggregation behavior, and 4) a strong low field shift of the 13C resonances of the ipso carbon atoms in NMR spectra was observed. First results from quantum chemical calculations on diaryl dicalcium(I) suggest a long Ca--Ca bond with a considerable Ca--Ca bond dissociation energy. Initial results on a selection of applications such as metallation, metathesis, and addition reactions of aryl calcium compounds are presented as well.

Aryl Calcium Compounds: Syntheses, Structures, Physical Properties, and Chemical Behavior

Organocalcium chemistry is still in its infancy. The direct synthesis of activated calcium and (substituted) iodobenzenes allows for the large-scale and high-yield synthesis of aryl calcium iodides. The influence of the substitution patterns of the phenyl group, halogen atom, and solvent is discussed. Aryl calcium iodides show a Schlenk equilibrium that enables the isolation of diaryl calcium derivatives. Owing to the high reactivity of aryl calcium halides, low temperatures have to be maintained throughout the preparative procedures in order to avoid side reactions. A decrease of reactivity and, hence, an enhanced stability at higher temperatures can be achieved by shielding of the calcium atom by increasing the coordination number of the metal center or by substitution of the iodide anion by bulky groups.

Complexes of the Heavier Alkaline Earth Metals Ca, Sr, and Ba with O-Functionalized Phosphanide Ligands

Metathesis reactions between either SrI(2) or BaI(2) and 2 equiv of the potassium phosphanide [[(Me(3)Si)(2)CH]-(C(6)H(4)-2-OMe)P]K yield, after recrystallization, the complexes [[([Me(3)Si](2)CH)(C(6)H(4)-2-OMe)P](2)M(THF)(n)] [M = Sr, n = 2 (5); Ba, n = 3 (6)]. Similar metathesis reactions between MI(2) and 2 equiv of the more sterically demanding potassium phosphanide [[(Me(3)Si)(2)CH](C(6)H(3)-2-OMe-3-Me)P]K yield the chemically isostructural complexes [[([Me(3)Si](2)CH)(C(6)H(3)-2-OMe-3-Me)P](2)M(THF)(2)] [M = Ca (9), Sr (7), Ba (8)]. Compounds 5-9 have been characterized by multi-element NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Complex 9 is thermally unstable and decomposes at room temperature to give the tertiary phosphane [(Me(3)Si)(2)CH](C(6)H(3)-2-OMe-3-Me)P(Me) and an unidentified Ca-containing product. Compounds 5 and 6 also decompose at elevated temperatures to give the corresponding tertiary phosphane [(Me(3)Si)(2)CH](C(6)H(4)-2-OMe)P(Me) and intractable metal-containing products. The decomposition of 5, 6, and 9 suggests that these compounds undergo an intramolecular methyl migration from the O atom in one phosphanide ligand to the P atom of an adjacent phosphanide ligand to give species containing dianionic alkoxo-phosphanide ligands.

A homologous series of alkaline earth phosphanides: syntheses, crystal structures, and unusual dynamic behavior of (THF)(n)M[P(CH(SiMe(3))(2))(C(6)H(4)-2-CH(2)NMe(2))](2) (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba)

The secondary phosphine R(Me(2)NCH(2)-2-C(6)H(4))PH reacts with Bu(2)Mg to give the homoleptic complex Mg[PR(C(6)H(4)-2-CH(2)NMe(2))](2) (1) [R = CH(SiMe(3))(2)]. The analogous heavier alkaline earth metal complexes (THF)(n)Ae[PR(C(6)H(4)-2-CH(2)NMe(2))](2) [Ae = Ca (2), n = 0; Ae = Sr (3), Ba (4), n = 1] have been synthesized by metathesis reactions between K[PR(C(6)H(4)-2-CH(2)NMe(2))] and 0.5 equiv of the respective alkaline earth metal diiodide. Compounds 1-4 have been characterized by X-ray crystallography and multielement NMR spectroscopy. In the solid state, compounds 1-4 are monomeric, complexes 1 and 2 adopting a distorted tetrahedral geometry and complexes 3 and 4 adopting a distorted square pyramidal geometry (1: orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 11.413(3) A, b = 12.072(3) A, c = 32.620(11) A, Z = 4. 2: monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 9.5550(4) A, b = 17.4560(7) A, c = 24.5782(10) A, beta = 91.673(2) degrees, Z = 4. 3: monoclinic, C2/c, a = 15.0498(9) A, b = 13.0180(8) A, c = 24.3664(14) A, beta = 104.593(2) degrees, Z = 4. 4: monoclinic, C2/c, a = 15.2930(10) A, b = 13.0326(9) A, c = 24.6491(17) A, beta = 105.542(2) degrees, Z = 4). In toluene solution, compounds 2-4 are subject to dynamic processes which are attributed to a monomer-dimer equilibrium for which bridge-terminal exchange of the phosphanide ligands in the dimer may be frozen out at low temperatures.