Structure and bonding in the isoelectronic series CnHnP5−n+: is phosphorus a carbon copy?

Electrophilic Behavior of the "Nucleophilic" Pyramidane: Reactivity of Ge-Pyramidane towards Organolithium Reagents

The particular reactivity of the recently discovered class of the main group element polyhedral clusters, pyramidanes, remains largely unexplored. In this communication, we report the reaction of the germapyramidane with tert-butyllithium leading to the rather unusual organogermanium compound [Li+(thf)2]⋅2-, as the product of the formal insertion of a Ge-apex into the C-Li bond. This reactivity mode exemplifies unusual electrophilic behaviour of a pyramidane, which is a priori considered as a nucleophilic reagent. Being highly reactive, [Li+(thf)2]⋅2- readily undergoes reactions with electrophiles (MeI, EtBr), initially forming intermediate germahousenes, which isomerize to the thermodynamically more favourable germoles.

Molecular pyramids - from tetrahedranes to [6]pyramidanes

The study of 3D architectures at a molecular scale has fascinated chemists for generations. This includes molecular pyramids with all-carbon frameworks, such as trigonal, tetragonal and pentagonal pyramidal geometries. A small number of substituted tetrahedranes and all-carbon [4]-[5]pyramidanes have been experimentally generated and studied. Although the hypothetical unsubstituted parent [3]-[6]pyramidanes have only been explored computationally, the formal replacement of carbon vertices with isolobal main group element fragments has provided a number of examples of stable hetero[m]pyramidanes, which have been isolated and amply characterized. In this Review, we highlight the synthesis and chemical properties of [3]-[6]pyramidanes and summarize the progress in the development of chemistry of pyramid-shaped molecules.

Pyramidanes: newcomers to the anti-van't Hoff-Le Bel family

In this feature article, an overview of the chemistry of pyramidanes, as a novel class of main group element clusters, is given. A general introduction sets the scene, briefly presenting the non-classical pyramidal geometry of tetracoordinate carbon, as opposed to the classical tetrahedral configuration. Pyramidanes, as the simplest organic compounds possessing a pyramidal carbon atom, are then discussed from both computational and experimental viewpoints, to show the theoretical predictions on the stability and thus the feasibility of pyramidanes has finally culminated in the isolation of the first stable representatives of the pyramidane family featuring heavy main group elements at the apex of the square pyramid. Synthetic strategies towards pyramidanes, as well as their peculiar structural features, non-classical bonding situations, and specific reactivity, are presented and discussed in this review.

A Germapyramidane Switches Between 3D Cluster and 2D Cyclic Structures in Single-Electron Steps

Reaction of the imidazolium-substituted iphosphate-diide, (Ipr)₂ C₂ P₂ (IDP), with GeCl₂  ⋅ dioxane and KBArF₂₄ [(BarF₂₄ )^- =tetrakis[(3,5-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate)] afforded the dicationic spherical-aromatic nido-cluster [Ge(η⁴ -IDP)]²⁺ ([1]²⁺ ) (Ipr=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolium-2-ylidene). This complex is a rare heavy analogue of the elusive pyramidane [C(η⁴ -C₄ H₄ )]. [1]²⁺ undergoes two reversible one-electron reductions, which yield the radical cation [2]⋅⁺ and the neutral Ge^II species 3. Both [2]⋅⁺ and 3 rearrange in solution forming the 2D aromatic and planar imidazolium-substituted digermolide [4]²⁺ and germole-diide 5, respectively. Both planar species can be oxidized back to [1]²⁺ using AgSbF₆ . These redox-isomerizations correspond to the fundamental transformation of a 3D aromatic cluster into a 2D aromatic ring compound upon reduction and vice versa. The mechanism of these reactions was elucidated using DFT calculations and cyclic voltammetry experiments.

Homoatomic cations: From [P5]+ to [P9]. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022;8:eabq8613. [PMID: 36070385 PMCID: PMC9451154 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq8613]

Recent synthetic approaches to a series of [P₉]X salts (X = [F{Al(OR^F)₃}₂], [Al(OR^F)₄], and (R^F = C(CF₃)₃); Ga₂Cl₇) overcome limitations in classical synthesis methods that proved unsuitable for phosphorus cations. These salts contain the homopolyatomic cation [P₉]⁺ via (I) oxidation of P₄ with NO[F{Al(OR^F)₃}₂], (II) the arene-stabilized Co(I) sandwich complex [Co(arene)₂][Al(OR^F)₄] [arene = ortho-difluorobenzene (o-DFB) and fluorobenzene (FB)], or (III) the reduction of [P₅Cl₂][Ga₂Cl₇] with Ga[Ga₂Cl₇] as Ga(I) source in the presence of P₄. Quantum chemical CCSD(T) calculations suggest that [P₉]⁺ formation from [Co(arene)₂]⁺ occurs via the nido-type cluster [(o-DFB)CoP₄]⁺, which resembles the isoelectronic, elusive [P₅]⁺. Apparently, the nido-cation [P₅]⁺ forms intermediately in all reactions, particularly during the Ga(I)-induced reduction of [P₅Cl₂]⁺ and the subsequent pick up of P₄ to yield the final salt [P₉][Ga₂Cl₇]. The solid-state structure of [P₉][Ga₂Cl₇] reveals the anticipated D_2d-symmetric Zintl-type cage for the [P₉]⁺ cation. Our approaches show great potential to bring other [P_n]⁺ cations from the gas to the condensed phase.

Borole/Borapyramidane Relationship

Boroles and borapyramidanes are classical and nonclassical constitutional isomers, respectively. It is here shown that they can indeed be interconverted. Treatment of the bis(alkynyl)B(C₆F₅) SMe₂ adduct 3·SMe₂ with HB(C₆F₅)₂ gave borole 1·SMe₂, featuring trimethylsilyl substituents in both α positions to boron, by means of a 1,1-hydroboration/alkenylboration sequence. Photolysis of the classical borole adduct 1·SMe₂ resulted in rearrangement to its nonclassical structural isomer, borapyramidane 2, in high yield, which exhibits a vicinal pair of trimethylsilyl substituents at the square pyramidane base. Neutral borapyramidane 2 is a rare example of an isoster of the (CH)₅⁺ pyramidane cation. Thermolysis of borapyramidane 2 in the presence of SMe₂ at 60 °C re-formed borole 1·SMe₂, which converted at 100 °C to 2,3-bis-silyl-substituted borole isomer 8·SMe₂. Its photolysis also gave borapyramidane 2. Prolonged photolysis of 2 at elevated temperatures converted this to borapyramidane isomer 10 containing a pair of trimethylsilyl groups in 1,3-position at its square C₄-pyramidal base. The borole and borapyramidane isomers were characterized by X-ray diffraction, and the system was analyzed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Isolation of singlet carbene derived 2-phospha-1,3-butadienes and their sequential one-electron oxidation to radical cations and dications

A synthetic strategy for the 2-phospha-1,3-butadiene derivatives [{(IPr)C(Ph)}P(cAACMe)] (3a) and [{(IPr)C(Ph)}P(cAACCy)] (3b) (IPr = C{(NDipp)CH}2, Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3; cAACMe = C{(NDipp)CMe2CH2CMe2}; cAACCy = C{(NDipp)CMe2CH2C(Cy)}, Cy = cyclohexyl) containing a C[double bond, length as m-dash]C-P[double bond, length as m-dash]C framework has been established. Compounds 3a and 3b have a remarkably small HOMO-LUMO energy gap (3a: 5.09; 3b: 5.05 eV) with a very high-lying HOMO (-4.95 eV for each). Consequently, 3a and 3b readily undergo one-electron oxidation with the mild oxidizing agent GaCl3 to afford radical cations [{(IPr)C(Ph)}P(cAACR)]GaCl4 (R = Me 4a, Cy 4b) as crystalline solids. The main UV-vis absorption band for 4a and 4b is red-shifted with respect to that of 3a and 3b, which is associated with the SOMO related transitions. The EPR spectra of compounds 4a and 4b each exhibit a doublet due to coupling of the unpaired electron with the 31P nucleus. Further one-electron removal from the radical cations 4a and 4b is also feasible with GaCl3, affording the dications [{(IPr)C(Ph)}P(cAACR)](GaCl4)2 (R = Me 5a, Cy 5b) as yellow crystals. The molecular structures of compounds 3-5 have been determined by X-ray diffraction and analyzed by DFT calculations.

Theoretical Prediction for Synthetic Realization: Pyramidal Systems ClE[E′4R4] (E = B–Ga, E′ = C–Ge, R = SiMe3, SiMetBu2): A DFT Study

Structure and bonding of hybrid group 13/14 pyramidal molecules ClE[E′4R4] (E = B–Ga, E′ = C–Ge, R = SiMe3, SiMetBu2) were studied by DFT calculations. Six pyramidal structures are suggested for their potential synthetic realization.

Electronic structure and bonding in neutral and dianionic boradiphospholes: R'BC2P2R2 (R = H, tBu, R' = H, Ph)

Classical and non-classical isomers of both neutral and dianionic BC(2)P(2)H(3) species, which are isolobal to Cp(+) and Cp(-), are studied at both B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and G3B3 levels of theory. The global minimum structure given by B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) for BC(2)P(2)H(3) is based on a vinylcyclopropenyl-type structure, whereas BC(2)P(2)H(3)(2-) has a planar aromatic cyclopentadienyl-ion-like structure. However, at the G3B3 level, there are three low-energy isomers for BC(2)P(2)H(3): 1) tricyclopentane, 2) nido and 3) vinylcyclopropenyl-type structures, all within 1.7 kcal mol(-1) of each other. On the contrary, for the dianionic species the cyclic planar structure is still the minimum. In comparison to the isolobal Cp(+) and H(n)C(n)P(5-n)(+) isomers, BC(2)P(2)H(3) shows a competition between pi-delocalised vinylcyclopropenyl- and cluster-type structures (nido and tricyclopentane). Substitution of H on C by tBu, and H on B by Ph, in BC(2)P(2)H(3) increases the energy difference between the low-lying isomers, giving the lowest energy structure as a tricyclopentane type. Similar substitution in BC(2)P(2)H(3)(2-) merely favours different positional isomers of the cyclic planar geometry, as observed in 1) isoelectronic neutral heterodiphospholes EtBu(2)C(2)P(2) (E = S, Se, Te), 2) monoanionic heterophospholyl rings EtBu(2)C(2)P(2) (E = P(-), As(-), Sb(-)) and 3) polyphospholyl rings anions tBu(5-n)C(n)P(5-n) (n = 0-5). The principal factors that affect the stability of three-, four-, and five-membered ring and acyclic geometrical and positional isomers of neutral and dianionic BC(2)P(2)H(3) isomers appear to be: 1) relative bond strengths, 2) availability of electrons for the empty 2p boron orbital and 3) steric effects of the tBu groups in the HBC(2)P(2)tBu(2) systems.

Platinum(II) tetramesityltetraphosphane-1,4-diides

[Na(2)(thf)(4)(P(4)Mes(4))] () (Mes = 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2)) reacts with one equivalent of [PtCl(2)(cod)] (cod = 1,5-cycloctadiene) or [PtCl(2)(dppe)] (dppe = bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) to give the corresponding platinum(II) tetramesityltetraphosphane-1,4-diide complexes [Pt(P(4)Mes(4))(cod)] () and [Pt(P(4)Mes(4))(dppe)] (). The Pt-P bonds of these complexes proved to be extraordinarily stable and did not react with insertion reagents such as tert-butyl isocyanide or cyclohexyl isocyanide. Instead, ligand transfer occurred to give [Pt(P(4)Mes(4))(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]NBu(t))(2)] () and [Pt(P(4)Mes(4))(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]NCy)(2)] (). Further reactions of with CO, CS(2), white phosphorus, MeI and ethyl diazoacetate led either to formation of cyclo-P(4)Mes(4) and cyclo-P(3)Mes(3) or to unidentified products, in which no evidence of insertion of these reagents into the Pt-P bond was observed.

Different transmetallation behaviour of [M(P4HR4)] salts toward rhodium(I) and copper(I) (M = Na, K; R = Ph, Mes; Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2)

[K(2)(P(4)Mes(4))] (1) or [Na(2)(THF)(4)(P(4)Mes(4))] (2) (Mes = 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2)) reacts with one equivalent of HCl and subsequently with 0.5 equivalents of [{RhCl(cod)}(2)] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) to give a mixture of rhodium complexes, from which [Rh(P(4)HMes(4))(cod)] (3) and the secondary product [Rh(2)(micro-P(2)HMes(2))(mu-PHMes)(cod)(2)] (4) were isolated and characterised by X-ray diffraction studies. Alternatively, the reaction of [K(2)(P(4)Ph(4))] (5) or [Na(2)(THF)(5)(P(4)Ph(4))] (6) with one equivalent of HCl and subsequently with one equivalent of [CuCl(PCyp(3))(2)] (Cyp = cyclo-C(5)H(9)) gave the complex [Cu(4)(P(4)Ph(4))(2)(PH(2)Ph)(2)(PCyp(3))(2)] (7), presumably via disproportionation of the monoanion (P(4)HPh(4))(-).

Evidence for a SN2-Type Pathway for Phosphine Exchange in Phosphine–Phosphenium Cations, [R2PPR′3]+

Abstraction of a Cl(-) ion from the P-chlorophospholes, R4C4PCl (R=Me, Et), produced the P--P bonded cations [R4C4P--P(Cl)C4R4]+, which reacted with PPh3 to afford X-ray crystallographically characterised phosphine-phosphenium cations [R4C4P(PPh3)]+ (R=Me, Et). Examination of the 31P-{1H} NMR spectrum of a solution (CH2Cl(2)) of [Et4C4P-(PPh3)]+ and PPh3 revealed broadening of the resonances due to both free and coordinated PPh3, and importantly it proved possible to measure the rate of exchange between PPh3 and [Et4C4P-(PPh3)]+ by line shape analysis (gNMR programmes). The results established second-order kinetics with DeltaS( not equal)=(-106.3+/-6.7) J mol(-1) K(-1), DeltaH( not equal)=(14.9+/-1.6) kJ mol(-1) and DeltaG( not equal) (298.15 K)=(46.6+/-2.6) kJ mol(-1), values consistent with a SN2-type pathway for the exchange process. This result contrasts with the dominant dissociative (S(N)1-type) pathway reported for the analogous exchange reactions of the [ArNCH2CH2N(Ar)P(PMe3)]+ ion, and to understand in more detail the factors controlling these two different reaction pathways, we have analysed the potential energy surfaces using density functional theory (DFT). The calculations reveal that, whilst phosphine exchange in [Et4C4P(PPh3)]+ and [ArNCH2CH2N(Ar)P(PMe3)](+) is superficially similar, the two cations differ significantly in both their electronic and steric requirements. The high electrophilicity of the phosphorus center in [Et4C4P]+, combined with strong pi-pi interactions between the ring and the incoming and outgoing phenyl groups of PPh3, favours the SN2-type over the SN1-type pathway in [Et4C4P(PPh3)]+. Effective pi-donation from the amide groups reduces the intrinsic electrophilicity of [ArNCH2CH2N(Ar)P]+, which, when combined with the steric bulk of the aryl groups, shifts the mechanism in favour of a dissociative SN1-type pathway.

Cationic phosphorus–carbon–pnictogen cages isolobal to [C5R5]+

The cationic cages nido-[C2Bu(t)2P2E]+ (E = As, Sb), which are isolobal to the cyclopentadienyl cation, adopt square based pyramidal structures with the heavy pnictogen atom at the apex; NMR and computational methods have been used to probe the dynamic behaviour of the complexes.