A Practical Method for the Large-Scale Preparation of the P-Chiral Dihydrobenzoazaphosphole Core by Chemical Resolution.

pivZPhos, as an effective ligand in the Cu-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of ketones and aminoboration of alkenes, is prepared efficiently from the corresponding triflate of P-chiral dihydrobenzoazaphosphole 1. However, the previous approach to 1 by chiral separation is time-consuming and costly, preventing its production and further application on a large scale. In this report, a practical method for the large-scale preparation of 1 was developed via chiral chemical resolution with (1S,2S)-diaminocyclohexane as an effective resolution reagent.

Diphosphoniodiphosphene Formation by Transition Metal Insertion into a Triphosphenium Zwitterion.

Treatment of two equivalents of the triphosphenium zwitterion L with sources of Ni0 and Pd0 form the mononuclear η2 -diphosphoniodiphosphene complexes 1 and 2. The reaction between L and [FeCp(CO)2 ]2 results in the binuclear µ-η1 :η1 -diphosphoniodiphosphene iron complex 3, which features an alternative bonding motif of the diphosphoniodiphosphene unit. The formation of these species has been confirmed by spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and their electronic structures have been elucidated using computational methods.

Assessing the Ligand Properties of NHC-Stabilised Phosphorus(I) Cations.

The isolation and full characterisation of a series of cationic metal-carbonyl complexes bearing an N-heterocyclic carbene stabilised phosphorus(I) ligand are reported. Specifically, the mononuclear coordination complexes [LM(CO)5 ][BPh4 ] (M=Cr, Mo, W), [LFe(CO)4 ][BPh4 ] and the dinuclear complexes [LMn2 (CO)8 ][BPh4 ] and [LCo2 (CO)6 ][BPh4 ], in which L=[bis(1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene)phosphanide]+ , have all been isolated in the solid state and structurally confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The dicationic platinum complex trans-[L2 PtCl2 ][BPh4 ]2 is also reported and fully characterised. The donor ability of [L]+ has been assessed by IR spectroscopy of its metal-carbonyl complexes and by using DFT calculations. The results suggest that [L]+ is a weak π-acceptor with moderate donor strength and thus it bridges the gap that exists between phosphines and amines in terms of ligand properties. Collectively, these molecules represent the first crystallographically characterised cationic metal-carbonyl derivatives of a PI -centred ligand and are a rare collection of cationic metal-carbonyl complexes.

Synthesis of Heavy Dicyanamide Homologues from Air-Stable Precursors.

A convenient synthesis of dicyanophosphide and dicyanoarsenide anions is reported. These heavy homologues of the long-known and fundamentally important dicyanamide anion were formed through the nucleophilic displacement of bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) from the pnictogen+ transfer agents [dppePn][BPh4 ] (Pn=P, As) by exposure to cyanide salts. The protocol requires three synthetic steps from commercially available materials and the [dppePn][BPh4 ] salts are remarkably temperature, air, and moisture stable. All products have been fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and the electronic structures of the DCPn anions have been assessed computationally.

Convenient Preparation and Detailed Analysis of a Series of NHC-Stabilized Phosphorus(I) Dyes and Their Derivatives.

A safe, convenient, and P-atom-efficient synthesis of N-heterocyclic-carbene- (NHC-) stabilized phosphorus(I) bromide salts is reported that involves P(+) transfer from an easily prepared triphosphenium precursor. The resulting family of phosphamethine cyanine dyes featuring N,N'-dialkyl-substituted 4,5-dimethylimidazole-2-ylidenes ((R)NHC(Me)) and benzimidazole-2-ylidenes ((R)NHC(B)) (R = Me, Et, iPr) have been fully characterized. We found that increasing N-alkyl group size causes increased twisting of the carbene fragments from the C-P-C plane, which decreases the magnitude of hyperconjugation between the π-type lone pair on phosphorus and the carbene fragments. This decrease is manifested as changes in the (31)P NMR chemical shifts, magnitudes of the P-C coupling constants, and electronic spectra of the cations. The reactivities of these ions toward various oxidants are reported: Oxidation by sulfur generates dithiophosphinium salts, protonation or methylation gives dicationic phosphines, and coordination to 1 or 2 equiv of gold(I) chloride results in mono or bimetallic complexes, respectively.

Low-valent chemistry: an alternative approach to phosphorus-containing oligomers.

A convenient preparative approach to low-valent phosphorus-rich oligomers is presented. Ligand substitution reactions involving anionic diphosphine ligands of the form [(PR2)2N](-) and [(PPh2)2C5H3](-) and a triphosphenium bromide P(I) precursor result in the formation of phosphorus(I)-containing heterocycles, several of which are of types that have never been prepared before. The methodology described also allows for the preparation of the known heterocycle cyclo-[P(PPh2)N(PPh2)]2 in better yields and purity than the synthetic approach reported previously. Preliminary reactivity studies demonstrate the viability of such zwitterionic oligomers as multidentate ligands for transition metals.

Synthesis of bis(trithio)phosphines by oxidative transfer of phosphorus(i).

The synthesis of novel bis(trithio)phosphines is achieved by oxidative addition of tetrathiocins to the phosphorus(i) reagent [PIdppe][Br] in good yields under ambient conditions. These bis(trithio)phosphines and the related intermediate diphosphine species are characterized by X-ray diffraction and multinuclear NMR and a mechanism is proposed for the formation of these molecules. In contrast, the related reaction with diphenyldisulfide produces a mononuclear tris(phenylthio)phosphine.

Accessing multimetallic complexes with a phosphorus(i) zwitterion.

We present the synthesis of a zwitterionic triphosphenium molecule, tBu(C5H2)(PPh2)2PI (L), which can act as a single- or multidentate ligand with group 6, 7, 8 and 9 metal carbonyl complexes. Group 6, [M(CO)5L] complexes are formed under photolytic conditions, where the metal is bound at the P(i) center. In the case of Mo(CO)6, the bimetallic complex [M(CO)5LMo(CO)3] is generated, which features bonds to both the phosphorus(i) center and the cyclopentadienyl moiety of the molecule. Interestingly, group 7 and 9 metal carbonyl dimers generate bimetallic complexes in the form [M2(CO)nL], where both metal centers are bound at the phosphorus(i) center. A detailed analysis of these molecules is provided, including X-ray diffraction, multinuclear NMR, infrared spectroscopy and computational investigations.

The phosphinoboration of carbodiimides, isocyanates, isothiocyanates and CO2.

The transition metal-free addition of phosphinoboronate ester Ph2PBpin (pin = 1,2-O2C2Me4) to heterocumulenes including carbodiimides, isocyanates, isothiocyanates and carbon dioxide has been investigated. The corresponding 1,2-addition products were readily prepared at room temperature without the need of a catalyst or added base. Addition of methanol to the compounds derived from addition of Ph2PBpin to carbodiimides, isocyanates, and isothiocyanates resulted in traditional hydrophosphination products. The methodology developed in this study provides a simple and elegant route for the generation of a wide range of functionalized phosphines. The phosphinoboronate ester Ph2PBpin also selectively and reversibly adds to CO2 at room temperature in a 1,2-manner.

A zwitterionic triphosphenium compound as a tunable multifunctional donor.

The preparation of a novel triphosphenium zwitterion featuring di-, tri-, and tetra-coordinate phosphorus centres derived from a 1,2,4-tris-(diphenylphoshinyl)cyclopentadienyl framework is described. The reactivity of this potentially multidentate donor with protons, elemental sulfur and gold(i) chloride is examined, and the preferential reactivity of the pendant phosphine group over the P(i) centre is rationalized on the basis of density functional theory investigations.

Preparation and Reactivity of a Triphosphenium Bromide Salt: A Convenient and Stable Source of Phosphorus(I).

We present herein the optimized synthesis of a triphosphenium bromide salt. Apart from being a versatile metathesis reagent, this unusually stable low-valent-phosphorus-containing compound acts as a useful P+ transfer agent. Unlike traditional methods employed to access low-coordinate phosphorus species which usually require pyrophoric phosphorus-containing precursors (white phosphorus, Tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphine, etc.), or harsh reducing agents (alkali metals, potassium graphite, etc.), the current approach does not involve pyrophoric or explosive reagents and can be done on large scales (>20 g) in excellent yields by undergraduates with basic air-free synthetic training. The bromide counter ion is readily exchanged with other anions such as tetraphenyl borate (described herein) using typical salt metathesis reagents to obtain materials with desired properties and reactivities. The versatility of this P+ transfer approach is exemplified by the reactions of these triphosphenium precursors with an N-heterocyclic carbene and an anionic bisphosphine, each of which readily displace the neutral bisphosphine to give an NHC-stabilized phosphorus(I) cation and a phosphorus(I) containing zwitterion, respectively.