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.

Phosphanylphosphaalkenes as precursors for metallaphosphaalkene complexes

We synthesized phosphanylphosphaalkenes (biph)2CP-P(tBu)2 (2), Ph2CP-P(NEt2)2 (3), and (biph)2CP-P(NEt2)2 (4). The diaminophosphanyl derivatives reversibly dimerize head-to-head and react with a ruthenium complex, leading to P-P bond activation and the formation of a bridging phospaalkene complex under mild conditions.

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.

Triarylalkenes from the site-selective reductive cross-coupling of benzophenones and aldehydes

PhP(Li)TMS converts benzophenones to phosphaalkenes which upon activation under oxidizing, basic conditions react with aromatic aldehydes under the formation of triarylalkenes. The one-pot reaction omits transition metals, proceeds at room temperature and precludes the formation of any homo-coupling products. Systematic substrate variations reveal reactivity patterns that are useful for the identification of ketone/aldehyde combinations that can be coupled in yields up to 80%.

Increasing steric demand through flexible bulk - primary phosphanes with 2,6-bis(benzhydryl)phenyl backbones

Sterically demanding primary phosphanes of the type RBhp-PH2 (Bhp = 2,6-bis(benzhydryl)-4-R-phenyl; R = Me, tBu) could be prepared in high yields by modification of synthetic protocols of established bulky phosphanes. The Bhp substituents simultaneously exhibit extensive steric expansiveness and high degrees of flexibility compared to other 2,6-substituted phenyl backbones, enabling a range of different-sized atoms and functionalities to be located between the flanking benzhydryl moieties. Therefore, it was also possible to isolate and fully characterize several halogenated precursors, a diazonium intermediate, as well as a dihalostibane.

One-Pot Intermolecular Reductive Cross-Coupling of Deactivated Aldehydes to Unsymmetrically 1,2-Disubstituted Alkenes

The phospha-Peterson reaction between a lithiated secondary phosphane, MesP(Li)TMS, and an aldehyde affords Mes-phosphaalkenes which, upon methanol addition and P-oxidation, react with a second carbonyl compound site specifically to produce unsymmetric alkenes. The E/ Z selectivity of the one-pot cross coupling is largely determined by the electronic nature of the aryl substituent of the first aldehyde, with electron-donating groups giving rise to increased amounts of Z-alkenes.

Reductive coupling of two aldehydes to unsymmetrical E-alkenes via phosphaalkene and phosphinate intermediates

Stilbenes with push-pull electronics are directly accessible from an electron-rich and an electron-deficient benzaldehyde in a novel reductive aldehyde cross-coupling reaction. The one-pot procedure is enabled by the oxidation of a transient phosphinite to the corresponding phosphinate which exhibits sufficient reactivity towards deactivated aldehydes.

Reactivity enhancement of a diphosphene by reversible N-heterocyclic carbene coordination

Diphosphene TerMesP = PTerMes (1; TerMes = 2,6-Mes2C6H3; Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2) and NHCMe42 (NHCMe4 = 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene) exist in an equilibrium mixture with the NHCMe4 -coordinated diphosphene 3. While uncoordinated 1 is inert to hydrolysis, the NHC adduct 3 readily undergoes hydrolysis to afford a phosphino-substituted phosphine oxide with the liberation of NHCMe4 . On this basis, conditions suitable for the catalytic use of NHCMe4 were identified. Similarly, while the hydrogenation of free diphosphene 1 with H3N·BH3 is very slow, 3 reacts instantaneously with H3N·BH3 at room temperature to afford a dihydrodiphosphane.

Unsymmetrical E-Alkenes from the Stereoselective Reductive Coupling of Two Aldehydes

The unprecedented formation of unsymmetrical alkenes from the intermolecular reductive coupling of two different aldehydes is described. In contrast to the McMurry reaction which affords statistical product mixtures, selectivity in the reported procedure is achieved by a sequential ionic mechanism in which a first aldehyde is reacted with a phosphanylphosphonate to afford a phosphaalkene intermediate which, upon activation by hydroxide, reacts with a second aldehyde to the unsymmetrical E-alkenes. The described reaction is free of transition metals and proceeds under ambient temperature within minutes in good to excellent overall yields. It is a new methodology to use feedstock aldehydes for the direct production of C═C double bond-containing products and may impact how chemists think of multistep synthetic sequences in the future.