Heteroatom-Based Diradical(oid)s.

Heteroatom-centered diradical(oid)s have been in the focus of molecular main group chemistry for nearly 30 years. During this time, the diradical concept has evolved and the focus has shifted to the rational design of diradical(oid)s for specific applications. This review article begins with some important theoretical considerations of the diradical and tetraradical concept. Based on these theoretical considerations, the design of diradical(oid)s in terms of ligand choice, steric, symmetry, electronic situation, element choice, and reactivity is highlighted with examples. In particular, heteroatom-centered diradical reactions are discussed and compared with closed-shell reactions such as pericyclic additions. The comparison between closed-shell reactivity, which proceeds in a concerted manner, and open-shell reactivity, which proceeds in a stepwise fashion, along with considerations of diradical(oid) design, provides a rational understanding of this interesting and unusual class of compounds. The application of diradical(oid)s, for example in small molecule activation or as molecular switches, is also highlighted. The final part of this review begins with application-related details of the spectroscopy of diradical(oid)s, followed by an update of the heteroatom-centered diradical(oid)s and tetraradical(oid)s published in the last 10 years since 2013.

Manipulating the Substituent Sphere of a Bicyclic Silicon(I) Ring Compound Results in Anionic Cubane-Type Clusters and a Tetrahedral Silanide.

The reaction of the bicyclic silicon(I) ring compound Si4{N(SiMe3)Mes}4 1 with strong zwitterionic character and moderate sterical demand of the amido substituents with two equivalents of KC8 was investigated. This resulted in the unexpected abstraction of two amido substituents from 1 and additionally in dimerization to a dianionic Si8 cluster compound 2 with four unsubstituted silicon atoms and two [K([18]crown-6)]+ counter cations. Performing this reaction in the absence of [18]crown-6 results in release of only one amido substituent from 1 and dimerization to a dianionic Si8 cluster 3 with only two unsubstituted silicon atoms. This reaction with KC8 was repeated and trapping agents such as SiMe3Cl and tBuCl were added in-situ whereupon the second isolated homocyclic silylene 4 and a monoanionic hydride and tBu substituted Si8 cluster 5 with one unsubstituted silicon atom were isolated. Furthermore, 1 was reacted with KOtBu which resulted in the selective abstraction of one SiMe3 group and formation of the tetrahedral silanide 6 with one imido substituent bridging an edge of the tetrahedron.

A Phosphorus-Centred, Zirconocene-Bridged Tetraradical: Synthesis, Structure and Application as Molecular Double Switch.

Biradicals are important intermediates in the formation and breaking of a chemical bond. Their use as molecular switches is of particular interest. Much less is known about tetraradicals, which can, for example, consist of two biradical(oid) units. Here we report the synthesis of the first persistent phosphorus-centred tetraradical bound to a transition metal fragment. Starting from a zirconocene complex, rac-(ebthi)ZrCl2 (rac-(ebthi)=1,2-ethylene-1,10-bis(η5-tetrahydroindenyl), two cyclo-1,3-diphospha-pentane-1,3-diyls were successfully introduced, which finally led to the isolation of a deep green zirconcene-bridged bis(biradicaloid) complex (5) that can act as a double molecular switch. Under the influence of light (570 nm), this tetraradical forms a transannular bond in each of the two five-membered biradical units, leading to the formation of housane 5 h. Upon irradiation at 415 nm, the reverse reaction is observed, fully recovering tetraradical 5. Through single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation, both stable species of the molecular switch could be structurally characterised using SCXRD. The switching under the influence of light and the activation of molecular hydrogen were analysed in solution using NMR and UV spectroscopy. It was found that the addition of one or two equivalents of molecular hydrogen can be switched on and off by light.

Tricyanomethane or Dicyanoketenimine-Silylation makes the Difference.

Pseudohalides such as tricyanomethanide, [C(CN)3]-, are well known in chemistry, biochemistry and industrial chemistry. The protonated species HC(CN)3, a classic hydrogen pseudohalide Brønsted acid, is a very strong acid with a pKa value of -5. However, HC(CN)3 is difficult to handle as it tends to decompose rapidly or, more precisely, to oligo- and polymerize. Therefore, silylated pseudohalide compounds with the [Me3Si]+ as the "big organometallic proton" have become interesting, exhibiting similar chemical properties but better kinetic protection. Here, the stepwise silylation of the pseudohalide anion [C(CN)3]- is reported, forming the heavier homologue of HC(CN)3, namely [Me3Si][C(CN)3], and in presence of two additional [Me3Si]+ cations even the dicationic species [(Me3Si-NC)3C]2+ as stable [B(C6F5)4]- salt. Surprisingly, in contrast to the protonated species HC(CN)3, in which the proton is bound to the central carbon atom of [C(CN)3]-, silylation of the [C(CN)3]- anion occurs at one of the three terminal nitrogen atoms, thus forming the long-sought dicyanoketenimine [Me3Si-NC-C(CN)2]. All further silylation steps take place exclusively on the terminal N atoms of the three CN groups and not on the central carbon atom, until the intriguing, highly symmetrical dication, [(Me3Si-NC)3C]2+, is finally generated. The experimental data are supported by quantum chemical calculations in terms of thermodynamics and chemical bonding.

Rational Design of a Phosphorus-Centered Disbiradical.

Phosphorus-centered disbiradicals, in which the radical sites exist as individual spin doublets with weak spin-spin interaction have not been known so far. Starting from monoradicals of the type [⋅P(µ-NTer)2 P-R], we have now succeeded in linking two such monoradical phosphorus centers by appropriate choice of a linker. To this end, biradical [⋅P(µ-NTer)2 P⋅] (1) was treated with 1,6-dibromohexane, affording the brominated species {Br[P(µ-NTer)]2 }2 C6 H12 (3). Subsequent reduction with KC8 led to the formation of the disbiradical {⋅[P(µ-NTer)]2 }2 C6 H12 (4) featuring a large distance between the radical phosphorus sites in the solid state and formally the highest biradical character observed in a P-centered biradical so far, approaching 100 %. EPR spectroscopy revealed a three-line signal in solution with a considerably larger exchange interaction than would be expected from the molecular structure of the single crystal. Quantum chemical calculations revealed a highly dynamic conformational space; thus, the two radical sites can approach each other with a much smaller distance in solution. Further reduction of 4 resulted in the formation of a potassium salt featuring the first structurally characterized P-centered distonic radical anion (5- ). Moreover, 4 could be used in small molecule activation.

Rational Design of Persistent Phosphorus-Centered Singlet Tetraradicals and Their Use in Small-Molecule Activation.

Biradicals are important intermediates in the process of bond formation and breaking. While main-group-element-centered biradicals have been thoroughly studied, much less is known about tetraradicals, as their very low stability has hampered their isolation and use in small-molecule activation. Herein, we describe the search for persistent phosphorus-centered tetraradicals. Starting from an s-hydrindacenyl skeleton, we investigated the introduction of four phosphorus-based radical sites linked by an N-R unit and bridged by a benzene moiety. By varying the size of the substituent R, we finally succeeded in isolating a persistent P-centered singlet tetraradical, 2,6-diaza-1,3,5,7-tetraphospha-s-hydrindacene-1,3,5,7-tetrayl (1), in good yields. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that tetraradical 1 can be utilized for the activation of small molecules such as molecular hydrogen or alkynes. In addition to the synthesis of P-centered tetraradicals, the comparison with other known tetraradicals as well as biradicals is described on the basis of quantum mechanical calculations with respect to its multireference character, coupling of radical electrons, and aromaticity. The strong coupling of radical electrons enables selective discrimination between the first and the second activations of small molecules, which is shown by the example of H2 addition. The mechanism of hydrogen addition is investigated with parahydrogen-induced hyperpolarization NMR studies and DFT calculations.

Access to Benzo- and Naphtho-Azaphospholes via C-H Bond Activation of Aryl-Substituted Isonitriles.

Differently substituted phenyl isonitriles (with C-H bonds in ortho-position) and naphthyl isonitriles were reacted with the cyclic biradical [⋅P(µ-N-Ter)2 P⋅] (1). Insertion of the isonitrile formed a cyclic five-membered biradical [⋅P(NTer)2 C(R)P⋅] (2R, R=phenyl, naphthyl) in the first step, followed by C-H activation at the aryl substituent, resulting in novel azaphospholes (5R), which could be isolated and fully characterized. The formation of the azaphospholes can be prevented by the addition of a second equivalent of isonitrile, which causes the blocking of the radical centers in 2R by adduct formation (3R). Quantum mechanical calculations showed that a significant increase in the aromaticity of the benzo- and naphtho-azaphospholes is one of the driving forces for the activation process leading to the formation of thermodynamically favored azaphospholes. Targeted activation of C-H bonds using biradical systems represents a new synthetic approach to generate benzo- and naphtho-azaphospholes.

On the Dynamic Behavior of Pacman Phosphanes─A Case of Cooperativity and Redox Isomerism.

In solution, the Pacman chlorophosphane (2Cl) shows fast exchange of the endo/exo-orientation of the two P-Cl bonds in the molecule featuring cooperativity. Experimental and quantum mechanical investigations of the inversion on the phosphorus(III) centers reveal a crucial role of chloride ions in the dynamic process. To confirm the results, the homologous Pacman halogen-phosphanes 2X were prepared by halogen exchange reactions (X = F, Br, and I). Besides accelerated dynamic behavior for the heavier analogues, significant differences in the molecular structure are caused by the halogen exchange reactions, including the formation of an endo-endo substituted Pacman fluorophosphane as well as dicationic species by phosphorus halogen bond dissociation. The latter process can be regarded as redox isomerism since two PIII atoms in 2X become PV centers in the dications.

A Lewis Acid Stabilized Ketenimine in an Unusual Variant of the Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution.

Electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) can provide a straightforward approach to the efficient synthesis of functionalized complex aromatic molecules. In general, Lewis acids serve as a beneficial stimulus for the formation of a Wheland complex, the intermediate in the classical SE Ar mechanism of EAS, which is responsible for H/E (E=electrophile) substitution under formal H+ elimination. Herein, we report an unusual variant of EAS, in which a complex molecule such as the tricyanomethane, HC(CN)3 , is activated with a strong Lewis acid (B(C6 F5 )3 ) to the point where it can finally be used in an EAS. However, the Lewis acid here causes the isomerization of the tricyanomethane to the ketenimine, HN=C=C(CN)2 , which in turn directly attacks the aromatic species in the EAS, with simultaneous proton migration of the aromatic proton to the imino group, so that no elimination occurs that is otherwise observed in the SE Ar mechanism. By this method, it is possible to build up amino-malononitrile-substituted aromatic compounds in one step.

A Phosphorus-Based Pacman Dication Generated by Cooperative Self-Activation of a Pacman Phosphane.

Formal coordination of phosphorus(III) by a calix[4]pyrrole Schiff base ligand was achieved through the reaction of this ligand with PCl3 under basic conditions. The reaction product adopts a Pacman conformation with two P-Cl moieties, one in exo and one in endo position. It represents the first non-metal compound of calix[4]pyrrole Schiff base ligands and of Pacman ligands in general. The spatial neighborhood of the two phosphorus atoms enables cooperative reactions. As a first example, the chloride abstraction with AgOTf is presented, yielding a macrocyclic dication with two embedded phosphorus(III) monocations, which both undergo a cooperative, internal activation reaction with an adjacent C=N double bond. This intramolecular redox process affords two pentacoordinated phosphorus(V) centers within the Pacman dication. All reaction products were fully characterized and all results are supported by computations.

Radical Reactivity of the Biradical [⋠P(µ-NTer)2 P⋠] and Isolation of a Persistent Phosphorus-Cantered Monoradical [⋠P(µ-NTer)2 P-Et].

The activation of C-Br bonds in various bromoalkanes by the biradical [⋅P(µ-NTer)2 P⋅] (1) (Ter=2,6-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-phenyl) is reported, yielding trans-addition products of the type [Br-P(µ-NTer)2 P-R] (2), so-called 1,3-substituted cyclo-1,3-diphospha-2,4-diazanes. This addition reaction, which represents a new easy approach to asymmetrically substituted cyclo-1,3-diphospha-2,4-diazanes, was investigated mechanistically by different spectroscopic methods (NMR, EPR, IR, Raman); the results suggested a stepwise radical reaction mechanism, as evidenced by the in-situ detection of the phosphorus-centered monoradical [⋅P(µ-NTer)2 P-R].< To provide further evidence for the radical mechanism, [⋅P(µ-NTer)2 P-Et] (3Et⋅) was synthesized directly by reduction of the bromoethane addition product [Br-P(µ-NTer)2 P-Et] (2 a) with magnesium, resulting in the formation of the persistent phosphorus-centered monoradical [⋅P(µ-NTer)2 P-Et], which could be isolated and fully characterized, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Comparison of the EPR spectrum of the radical intermediate in the addition reaction with that of the synthesized new [⋅P(µ-NTer)2 P-Et] radical clearly proves the existence of radicals over the course of the reaction of biradical [⋅P(µ-NTer)2 P⋅] (1) with bromoethane. Extensive DFT and coupled cluster calculations corroborate the experimental data for a radical mechanism in the reaction of biradical [⋅P(µ-NTer)2 P⋅] with EtBr. In the field of hetero-cyclobutane-1,3-diyls, the demonstration of a stepwise radical reaction represents a new aspect and closes the gap between P-centered biradicals and P-centered monoradicals in terms of radical reactivity.

Synthesis of Bicyclic P,S-Heterocycles via the Addition of Thioketones to a Phosphorus-Centered Open-Shell Singlet Biradical.

Formal addition reactions between the open-shell singlet biradical [P(µ-NTer)]2 (1Ter) and xanthione, thioxanthione, as well as ferrocenyl naphthyl thioketone were studied in detail. Reactions were performed at room temperature and led to the formation of strained [2.1.1]-cage P,S-heterocycles (3). All addition products were isolated and fully characterized by spectroscopic methods. Furthermore, reversible cleavage of the xanthenthione-biradical addition product into the parent compounds (biradical and thioketone) could be demonstrated by 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy. The thermodynamic stability of all cyclization products with respect to the elimination of thioketone was studied by quantum-chemical computations including solvent effects. Regarding the dissociation of addition products 3 into the fragment molecules 1Ter and ketone/thioketone, calculations prove that a significantly larger distortion energy in ketones compared with thioketones causes lower thermodynamic stability of the ketone adducts.

A Persistent Phosphanyl-Substituted Thioketyl Radical Anion.

Alkali metal salts, M+ [Ter(iPr)P-C(=S)-P(iPr)2 S].- (M=Na, K; 2_M; Ter=2,6-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phenyl) containing a room-temperature-stable thioketyl radical anion were obtained by reduction of the thioketone precursor, Ter(iPr)P-C(=S)-P(iPr)2 S (1), with alkali metals (Na, K). Single-crystal X-ray studies as well as EPR spectroscopy revealed the unequivocal existence of a thioketyl radical anion in the solid state and in solution, respectively. The computed Mulliken spin density within 2_M is mainly located at the sulfur (49 %) and the carbonyl carbon (33 %) atoms. Upon adding [2.2.2]-cryptand to the radical species 2_K to minimize the interionic interaction, an activation reaction was observed, yielding a potassium salt with a phosphanyl thioether based anion, [K(crypt)]+ [Ter(iPr)P-C(-S-iPr)-P(iPr)2 S]- (3) as the product of an intermolecular shift of an iPr group from a second anion. The products were fully characterized and application of the radical anion as a reducing agent was demonstrated.

Hyperpolarization Effects in Parahydrogen Activation with Pnictogen Biradicaloids: Metal-free PHIP and SABRE.

Biradicaloids attract attention as a novel class of reagents that can activate small molecules such as H2 , ethylene and CO2 . Herein, we study activation of parahydrogen (nuclear spin-0 isomer of H2 ) by a number of 4- and 5-membered pnictogen biradicaloids based on hetero-cyclobutanediyl [X(µ-NTer)2 Z] and hetero-cyclopentanediyl [X(µ-NTer)2 ZC(NDmp)] moieties (X,Z=P,As; Ter=2,6-Mes2 -C6 H3 , Dmp=2,6-Me2 -C6 H3 ). The concerted mechanism of this reaction allowed observing strong nuclear spin hyperpolarization effects in 1 H and 31 P NMR experiments. Signal enhancements from two to four orders of magnitude were detected at 9.4 T depending on the structure. It is demonstrated that 4-membered biradicaloids activate H2 reversibly, leading to SABRE (signal amplification by reversible exchange) hyperpolarization of biradicaloids themselves and their H2 adducts. In contrast, the 5-membered counterparts demonstrate rather irreversible parahydrogen activation resulting in hyperpolarized H2 adducts only. Kinetic measurements provided parameters to support experimental observations.

Insertion of CS2 into a Phosphorus-Arsenic Single Bond and Investigations on Phosphane Arsanyldithiocarboxylates.

The synthesis and reactivity of sterically demanding phosphaarsanes TerR1P-AsR2 (3) is described. These species were selectively synthesized via metathesis reactions of Ter-stabilized [Ter = 2,6-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phenyl] potassium phosphides TerR1PK (1) with the N-heterocyclic chloroarsane ClAs{N(tBu)CH2}2 (2). Conversion of the n-butyl-substituted phosphaarsane 3c with the reactive heterocumulene CS2 leads to an insertion into the P-As bond, yielding the phosphane arsanyldithiocarboxylate TerR1P-C(S)S-AsR2 (4c) as a new structural motif. Because full conversion of 3c with CS2 requires long reaction times, an alternative synthetic route is reported herein, involving the conversion of 2 with phosphane dithiocarboxylates TerR1-C(S)SK (5), enabling synthetic access to a wider range of phosphane arsanyldithiocarboxylates. These interpnictogen dithiocarboxylates show an interesting bonding situation with a significantly elongated As-S bond due to negative hyperconjugation within the molecule. All products along the reaction path were fully characterized.

Photoisomerization of a phosphorus-based biradicaloid: ultrafast dynamics through a conical intersection.

As previously reported, photoisomerization of the open-shell singlet biradicaloid [TerNP]2CNDmp (2) yields its closed-shell housane-type isomer (3). In the present study, pump-probe spectroscopy was applied to investigate the excited-state dynamics of the photoisomerization, indicating ultrafast de-excitation of the S1 state through a conical intersection, in agreement with computational predictions. The structural and electronic changes during the isomerization process are discussed to gain an understanding of the reaction pathway and the transformation of the biradicaloid to a closed-shell species.

Azadiphosphaindane-1,3-diyls: A Class of Resonance-Stabilized Biradicals.

Conversion of 1,2-bis(dichlorophosphino)benzene with sterically demanding primary amines led to the formation of 1,3-dichloro-2-aza-1,3-diphosphaindanes of the type C6 H4 (µ-PCl)2 N-R. Reduction yielded the corresponding 2-aza-1,3-diphosphaindane-1,3-diyls (1), which can be described as phosphorus-centered singlet biradical(oid)s. Their stability depends on the size of the substituent R: While derivatives with R=Dmp (2,6-dimethylphenyl) or Ter (2,6-dimesitylphenyl) underwent oligomerization, the derivative with very bulky R=tBu Bhp (2,6-bis(benzhydryl)-4-tert-butylphenyl) was stable with respect to oligomerization in its monomeric form. Oligomerization involved activation of the fused benzene ring by a second equivalent of the monomeric biradical and can be regarded as formal [2+2] (poly)addition reaction. Calculations indicate that the biradical character in 1 is comparable with literature-known P-centered biradicals. Ring-current calculations show aromaticity within the entire ring system of 1.

Heterocyclopentanediyls vs Heterocyclopentadienes: A Question of Silyl Group Migration.

The reaction of the singlet biradical [P(µ-NHyp)]2 (Hyp = hypersilyl, (Me3Si)3Si) with different isonitriles afforded a series of five-membered N2P2C heterocycles. Depending on the steric bulk of the substituent at the isonitrile, migration of a Hyp group was observed, resulting in two structurally similar but electronically very different isomers. As evidenced by comprehensive spectroscopic and theoretical studies, the heterocyclopentadiene isomer may be regarded as a rather unreactive closed-shell singlet species with one localized N═P and one C═P double bond, whereas the heterocyclopentanediyl isomer represents an open-shell singlet biradical with interesting photochemical properties, such as photoisomerization under irradiation with red light to a [2.1.0]-housane-type species.

Synthesis of Sterically Demanding Secondary Phosphides and Diphosphanes and Their Utilization in Small-Molecule Activation.

Sterically demanding secondary potassium phosphides (4) were synthesized and investigated. Reaction with halophosphanes (5) yields diphosphanes (6), whereas reaction with CS2 yields phosphanyl dithioformates (10). These can be further converted to the corresponding phosphanyl esters of dithioformic acid R2P-C(S)S-PR2 (8). One of these thioesters (8) was found to undergo a migration reaction, resulting in the formation of a phosphanylthioketone with an additional phosphanylthiolate group (9), which was used as a chiral ligand in gold coordination chemistry. The phosphanyl migration reaction was investigated by spectroscopic and theoretical methods, revealing a first-order reaction via a cyclic transition state. All species mentioned were fully characterized.

Visible-Light Cascade Photooxygenation of Tetrahydrocarbazoles and Cyclohepta[b]indoles: Access to C,N-Diacyliminium Ions.

Tetrahydrocarbazoles and perhydrocyclohepta[b]indoles undergo a catalytic cascade singlet oxygenation in alkaline medium, which leads to chiral tricyclic perhydropyrido- and perhydroazepino[1,2-a]indoles in a single operation. These photooxygenation products are new synthetic equivalents of uncommon C,N-diacyliminium ions and can be functionalized with the aid of phosphoric acid organocatalysis.