Phosphirane-Enabled Synthesis of Aromatic 1H-1,2-Azaphospholes and Phosphinines

Aromatic heteroarenes are essential components of numerous valuable molecules. Herein we present a simple and effective route to access aromatic 1H-1,2-azaphospholes and phosphinines. This method utilizes the ring tension of phosphiranes to convert simple β-chloroethylphosphane and alkynyl imines into these valuable compounds. The nucleophilic addition of the phosphiranide complex to alkynyl imines results in phosphiranes 3, which transform into 1H-1,2-azaphospholes under mild conditions. The skeletal editing of 1,2-azaphospholes into phosphinine derivatives was accomplished through a cascade process involving a [4 + 2] cycloaddition and the elimination of a nitrogen moiety.

An Unexpected Access to Phospholene Fused β-Phosphinolactams by the Reaction of α-C2-Bridged Biphospholes and Nitrones

An efficient and practical method for the preparation of the phospholene fused β-phosphinolactam skeleton from α-C2-bridged biphospholes and nitrones is described. The dissociation of biphospholes generates transient 1-phosphafulvenes, followed by oxidation with nitrones to give the 1-phosphafulvene oxides. The oxidation of 1-phosphafulvene boosts its reactivity toward imine, leading to the isolated products.

Synthesis of P-stereogenic 1-phosphanorbornane-derived phosphine-phosphite ligands and application in asymmetric catalysis

A convenient synthesis of enantiopure mixed donor phosphine-phosphite ligands has been developed incorporating P-stereogenic phosphanorbornane and axially chiral bisnaphthols into one ligand structure. The ligands were applied in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution of diphenylallyl acetate, Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation of styrene and Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of an acetylated dehydroamino ester. Excellent branched selectivity was observed in the hydroformylation although low ee was found. Moderate ee's of up to 60% in allylic substitution and 50% in hydrogenation were obtained using bisnaphthol-derived ligands.

Ring-Opening Reaction of 1-Phospha-2-Azanorbornenes via P-N Bond Cleavage and Reversibility Studies

The reactive P-N bond in 1-phospha-2-azanorbornenes is readily cleaved by simple alcohols to afford P-chiral 2,3-dihydrophosphole derivatives as a racemic mixture. The isolation of the products was not possible due to the reversibility of the reaction, which could, however, be stopped by sulfurization of the phosphorus atom, thus efficiently blocking the lone pair of electrons, as exemplified for 6b yielding structurally characterized 8b. Additionally, the influence of the substituent in the α position to the phosphorus atom (H, Ph, 2-py, CN) on the reversibility of the reaction was studied. Extensive theoretical calculations for understanding the ring-closing mechanism suggested that a multi-step reaction with one or more intermediates was most probable.

2H-Phosphindole-Enabled Dearomatization and [4+2] Cycloaddition of (Hetero)Arenes

The heavier main group multiple bonds offer an effective tool for small molecule activation. Transient 2H-phosphinidole working as a reactive phosphadiene system undergoes phospha-Diels-Alder reaction with a wide range of non-activated aromatic carbocycles and heterocycles, including naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, furan, thiophene, pyrrole, pyridine, and benzo-fused heterocycles, affording concise access to a range of polycyclic fused rings feature with phosphorus at the bridgehead. These results demonstrate that non-activated (hetero)arenes are capable of acting as 2π systems in [4+2] cycloaddition with highly reactive 2H-phosphindole complex.

Access to Enantiomerically Pure P-Chiral 1-Phosphanorbornane Silyl Ethers

Sulfur-protected enantiopure P-chiral 1-phosphanorbornane silyl ethers 5a,b are obtained in high yields via the reaction of the hydroxy group of P-chiral 1-phosphanorbornane alcohol 4 with tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (TBDMSCl) and triphenylsilyl chloride (TPSCl). The corresponding optically pure silyl ethers 5a,b are purified via crystallization and fully structurally characterized. Desulfurization with excess Raney nickel gives access to bulky monodentate enantiopure phosphorus(III) 1-phosphanorbornane silyl ethers 6a,b which are subsequently applied as ligands in iridium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of a prochiral ketone and enamide. Better activity and selectivity were observed in the latter case.

Facile Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure P-Chiral 1-Alkoxy-2,3-dihydrophospholes via Nucleophilic P-N Bond Cleavage of a 1-Phospha-2-azanorbornene

The reactive P-N bond in a racemic mixture of endo-1-phospha-2-azanorbornene (PAN) (RP /SP )-endo-1 is readily cleaved with enantiomerically pure lithium alkoxides followed by protonation to afford diastereomeric mixtures of P-chiral 1-alkoxy-2,3-dihydrophosphole derivatives. The isolation of these compounds is rather challenging due to the reversibility of the reaction (elimination of alcohols). However, methylation of the sulfonamide moiety of the intermediate lithium salts and sulfur protection of the phosphorus atom prevent the elimination reaction. The resulting air-stable P-chiral diastereomeric 1-alkoxy-2,3-dihydrophosphole sulfide mixtures can be readily isolated and fully characterized. The diastereomers can be separated by crystallization. The 1-alkoxy-2,3-dihydrophosphole sulfides are readily reduced with Raney nickel to afford phosphorus(III) P-stereogenic 1-alkoxy-2,3-dihydrophospholes with potential use in asymmetric homogeneous transition metal catalysis.

Intramolecular Activation of Enones by Electrophilic Phosphinidene Complexes to Construct 2-Phosphafurans

Herein, we report a facile and highly atom-economic approach to 2-phosphafurans by using simple 2-chloroethylphosphine and acetylenic ketones. The key step of this protocol utilizes the Lewis acidity of electrophilic phosphinidenes to induce an intramolecular cyclization with enones. Dearomative hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of 2-phosphafurans provide two series of bicyclic phosphacycles. This rare synthetic application of Lewis acidity of electrophilic phosphinidene complexes represents a new frontier of phosphinidene chemistry.

Non-conventional Behavior of a 2,1-Benzazaphosphole: Heterodiene or Hidden Phosphinidene?

The titled 2,1-benzazaphosphole (1) (i. e. ArP, where Ar=2-(DippN=CH)C6 H4 , Dipp=2,6-iPr2 C6 H3 ) showed a spectacular reactivity behaving both as a reactive heterodiene in hetero-Diels-Alder (DA) reactions or as a hidden phosphinidene in the coordination toward selected transition metals (TMs). Thus, 1 reacts with electron-deficient alkynes RC≡CR (R=CO2 Me, C5 F4 N) giving 1-phospha-1,4-dihydro-iminonaphthalenes 2 and 3, that undergo hydrogen migration producing 1-phosphanaphthalenes 4 and 5. Compound 1 is also able to activate the C=C double bond in selected N-alkyl/aryl-maleimides RN(C(O)CH)2 (R=Me, tBu, Ph) resulting in the addition products 7-9 with bridged bicyclic [2.2.1] structures. The binding of the maleimides to 1 is semi-reversible upon heating. By contrast, when 1 was treated with selected TM complexes, it serves as a 4e donor bridging two TMs thus producing complexes [μ-ArP(AuCl)2 ] (10), [(μ-ArP)4 Ag4 ][X]4 (X=BF4 (11), OTf (12)) and [μ-ArP(Co2 (CO)6 )] (13). The structure and electron distribution of the starting material 1 as well as of other compounds were also studied from the theoretical point of view.

Hetero-Diels–Alder reactions of 2H-phospholes with allenes: synthesis and functionalization of 6-methylene-1-phosphanorbornenes

The phospha-Diels–Alder reaction between 2H-phospholes and arylallenes affords 6-methylene-1-phosphanorbornenes in high yields with excellent regioselectivity. Further functionalization provides a 1-phosphanorbornene modified PCH₂CH₂P skeleton.

Efficient Oxidative Resolution of 1-Phenylphosphol-2-Ene and Diels–Alder Synthesis of Enantiopure Bicyclic and Tricyclic P-Stereogenic C-P Heterocycles

1-Phenylphosphol-2-ene 1-oxide is effectively resolved by L-menthyl bromoacetate to afford both SP and RP enantiomers of 1-phenylphosphol-2-ene 1-oxide on a multigram scale. The resolved 1-phenylphosphol-2-ene oxide has been found to undergo face-selective and endo-selective cycloadditions with a series of acyclic and cyclic dienes to produce enantiopure P-stereogenic C-P heterocycles of hexahydrophosphindole and hexahydrobenzophosphindole as well as phospha[5.2.1.02,6]decene and phospha[5.2.2.02,6]undecene structures. Conversions of these cycloadducts to the fully saturated heterocyclic systems as well as to their P (III), P = S, P = Se and P-BH3 derivatives have been demonstrated to occur with retention of configuration and preservation of configurational homogeneity at P. A perplexing case of stereomutation at P during reduction of a tricyclic β-hydroxy phosphine oxide by PhSiH3 at 80 °C has been recorded.

Asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of chiral 1-alkyl-1,2-diphospholes with diphenyldiazomethane

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of chiral 1-alkyl-1,2-diphosphacyclopenta-2,4-dienes ((1-(−)-menthyl)oxymethyl-1,2-diphosphole and 1-(+)-neomenthyl-1,2-diphosphole) with diphenyldiazomethane leads to novel P-chiral bicyclic phosphiranes having six chiral centers. The degree of diastereoselectivity depends on the substituent at phosphorus, and dramatically increases in the case of (+)-neomenthyl group (de up to 71%). DFT calculations indicate that the cycloaddition is thermodynamically controlled.

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of chiral 1-alkyl-1,2-diphosphacyclopenta-2,4-dienes with diphenyldiazomethane leads to novel P-chiral bicyclic phosphiranes having six chiral centers.

An approach to 7-aza-1-phosphanorbornane complexes: strain promoted rearrangement of 1-iminylphosphirane complexes and cycloaddition with olefins

1-Iminylphosphirane W(CO)5 complexes react with alkenes under an atmosphere of CO at 130 °C to form the original 7-aza-1-phosphanorbornane complexes. The reaction works well with both electron-rich and electron-poor alkenes. On the basis of DFT calculations, we propose a mechanism including the rearrangement of phosphirane into a dipolar five-membered ring and the following cycloaddition of this dipolar intermediate with alkenes.

P-Chiral 1,7-diphosphanorbornenes: from asymmetric phospha-Diels-Alder reactions towards applications in asymmetric catalysis

A straightforward synthesis of P-chiral polycyclic phosphines by an asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of 1-alkyl-1,2-diphospholes and (5R)-(l-menthyloxy)-2(5H)-furanone (MOxF) is presented. The [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 1,2-diphospholes 1-3 with MOxF (4) proceeded with high diastereoselectivity (de up to 90%) resulting in the corresponding enantiopure anti-endo-1,7-diphosphanorbornenes 5a-7a. The absolute configuration of 5-7 was proved by a variety of 1D/2D NMR correlation methods. The use of the anti-endo-1,7-diphosphanorbornene 5a in the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation of cinnamyl acetate 8 with cyclic β-ketoesters 9a,b provided up to 52% ee.

CPh3 as a functional group in P-heterocyclic chemistry: elimination of HCPh3 in the reaction of P-CPh3 substituted Li/Cl phosphinidenoid complexes with Ph2CO

Li/Cl phosphinidenoid complexes 2a–c react with benzaldehyde to give 3a–c, but with benzophenone formation of complexes 4 and 5 was observed, the latter revealing the elimination of HCPh₃.