Metal-catalyzed valence isomerization of a methylene(thioxo)phosphorane to a thiaphosphirane

We explored coordination chemistry associated with valence isomerization between a methylene(thioxo)phosphorane (MTP) and a thiaphosphirane. For this purpose, we developed the selective synthesis of a MTP by eliminating chlorodimethylphenylsilane from the corresponding chlorophosphine sulfide. Treatment of the MTP with an equivalent amount of pentafluorophenylgold(I) complex resulted in the formation of a thiaphosphirane gold(I) complex, which likely proceeds via an η2-P,C-MTP gold complex. The MTP undergoes a valence isomerization catalyzed by copper(I) chloride to furnish a transition metal-free thiaphosphirane. Computational studies proposed a plausible mechanism involving a Cu-assisted cyclization reaction.

Cationic Phosphinidene as a Versatile P1 Building Block: [LC-P]+ Transfer from Phosphonio-Phosphanides [LC-P-PR3]+ and Subsequent LC Replacement Reactions (LC = N-Heterocyclic Carbene)

Cationic imidazoliumyl(phosphonio)-phosphanides [LC-P-PR3]+ (1a-e+, LC = 4,5-dimethyl-1,3-diisopropylimidazolium-2-yl; R = alkyl, aryl) are obtained via the nucleophilic fragmentation of tetracationic tetraphosphetane [(LC-P)4][OTf]4 (2[OTf]4) with tertiary phosphanes. They act as [LC-P]+ transfer reagents in phospha-Wittig-type reactions, when converted with various thiocarbonyls, giving unprecedented cationic phosphaalkenes [LC-P═CR2]+ (5a-f[OTf]) or phosphanides [LC-P-CR(NR2')]+ (6a-d[OTf]). Theoretical calculations suggest that three-membered cyclic thiophosphiranes are crucial intermediates of this reaction. To test this hypothesis, treatment of [LC-P-PPh3]+ with phosphaalkenes, that are isolobal to thioketones, permits the isolation of diphosphirane salts 11a,b[OTf]. Furthermore, preliminary studies suggest that the cationic phosphaalkene [LC-P═CPh2]+ may be employed to access rare examples of η2-P═C π-complexes with Pd0 and Pt0 when treated with [Pd(PPh3)4] and [Pt(PPh3)3] for which analogous complexes of neutral phosphaalkenes are scarce. The versatility of [LC-P]+ as a valuable P1 building block was showcased in substitution reactions of the transferred LC-substituent using nucleophiles. This is demonstrated through the reactions of 5a[OTf] and 6c[OTf] with Grignard reagents and KNPh2, providing a convenient, high-yielding access to MesP═CPh2 (16) and otherwise difficult-to-synthesize 1,3-diphosphetane 17 and P-aminophosphaalkenes.

Core and double bond functionalisation of cyclopentadithiophene-phosphaalkenes

Opto-electronic tuning by functionalisation of phosphorus heterofulvenoid cores. Oxidation, metal coordination at phosphorus, and substitution with donor and acceptor units at the carbon framework.

Phosphorus centers of different hybridization in phosphaalkene-substituted phospholes

Phosphole-substituted phosphaalkenes (PPAs) of the general formula Mes*P=C(CH(3))-(C(4)H(2)P(Ph))-R 5 a-c (Mes*=2,4,6-tBu(3)Ph; R=2-pyridyl (a), 2-thienyl (b), phenyl (c)) have been prepared from octa-1,7-diyne-substituted phosphaalkenes by utilizing the Fagan-Nugent route. The presence of two differently hybridized phosphorus centers (σ(2) ,λ(3) and σ(3) ,λ(3)) in 5 offers the possibility to selectively tune the HOMO-LUMO gap of the compounds by utilizing the different reactivity of the two phosphorus heteroatoms. Oxidation of 5 a-c by sulfur proceeds exclusively at the σ(3) ,λ(3) -phosphorus atom, thus giving rise to the corresponding thioxophospholes 6 a-c. Similarly, 5 a is selectively coordinated by AuCl at the σ(3),λ(3) -phosphorus atom. Subsequent second AuCl coordination at the σ(2),λ(3) -phosphorus heteroatom results in a dimetallic species that is characterized by a gold-gold interaction that provokes a change in π conjugation. Spectroscopic, electrochemical, and theoretical investigations show that the phosphaalkene and the phosphole both have a sizable impact on the electronic properties of the compounds. The presence of the phosphaalkene unit induces a decrease of the HOMO-LUMO gap relative to reference phosphole-containing π systems that lack a P=C substituent.

(σ3,λ5)-Phosphoranes versus (σ3,λ3)-thiaphosphiranes: quantum chemical investigation of products of phosphaalkene sulfurization

By sulfurization of phosphaalkenes (a) either (σ(3),λ(5))-phosphoranes (b) or (σ(3),λ(3))-thiaphosphiranes (c) are formed. In this study, Density Functional Theory (DFT) and coupled cluster (CCSD(T)) calculations have been carried out for model and experimental structures of (σ(3),λ(5))-phosphoranes and (σ(3),λ(3))-thiaphosphiranes to elucidate the factors influencing relative stabilities of b and c. According to the results of quantum chemical calculations, sterically bulky substituents make the phosphorane form more favored. Conversely, electronic effects of the most substituents provide higher stability for thiaphosphirane isomers. The only exception has been found in the cases where the substituent at the phosphorus atom possesses π-donor and σ-acceptor properties (e.g., in the case of amino group) and the substituents at carbon atom exhibit σ-donor/π-acceptor effects (e.g., silyl groups). The stability of the cyclic form c decreases further, if the substituents at the carbon atom are amino groups. In this case, a quite unusual structure has been theoretically predicted, which is considerably different from those of the hitherto known phosphoranes. It indicates a pyramidal configuration at the phosphorus atom and can be conventionally presented as a donor-acceptor adduct of diaminocarbene with thioxophosphine.