Dual Reactivity of 3a,6a-Diaza-1,4-diphosphapentalene: π-Donor versus n-Donor.

Herein, we present the synthesis, single-crystal X-ray structures, and spectroscopic properties for the 1:1 donor-acceptor complexes of 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) with annelated 3a,6a-diaza-1,4-diphosphapentalenes (DDPs) based on cyclohexanone azine (2) and tetralone azine (4). These are the first complexes of an organic π-acceptor with donor phosphorus heterocycles. According to the X-ray study, the DDPs and TCNB molecules are alternately stacked with interplanar distances of 3.335 and 3.404 Å for 2 and 4, respectively, which are suitable for intermolecular π···π interactions. The bond lengths and angles in the component molecules agree with values for neutral species, and the infrared spectra indicate a very slight degree of ionicity. The estimated HOMO-LUMO gap from the onset of optical absorption (1.40 eV) is in agreement with the band gap estimated from the density functional theory calculations for 2 (1.47 eV). By contrast, in a reaction with the related electron acceptor, tetrachloroterephthalonitrile, the DDPs proved to be donors of lone electron pairs in a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction of chlorine atoms demonstrating the duality of their electronic nature.

The Nature of P(σ2λ3↔σ2λ1) Dualism: 3a,6a-Diaza-1,4-diphosphapentalene as a Form of Stabilized Singlet Phosphinidene.

The current study provides a clear understanding of the chemical properties of annelated 3a,6a-diaza-1,4-diphosphapentalenes (DDPs), which are best viewed as stabilized singlet phosphinidenes. It was found that DDPs undergo reversible oligomerization in solution, which provides 1,2,3-diazaphosphole-substituted cyclotetraphosphines, isolated and characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis. Transformation of the 10-π-electron heteropentalene system into a stabilized phosphinidene occurs when the P-N bond is lengthened, which is facilitated by weak Lewis acids and bases. DFT calculations show that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of DDP has a high localization at the phosphorus atom when the N-P bond distance reaches the value of 2.53 Å. Oligomerization is a concentration-dependent process. Increasing the concentration of the monomer solution promotes tetramer formation, and vice versa: a strong dilution leads to a monomer. Tetramer solutions are photosensitive and yield monomers upon irradiation. The new annelated DDP 2 and its dichloro precursor 4 based on tetralone azine were synthesized. 4 exists in the solid state as a 1,4-dichloro isomer, while in solution it gives an equilibrium mixture of 1,1- and 1,4-isomers. Cyclohexanone-annelated diazadiphosphapentalene 1 forms a weak complex (1:1) with Ph3B, showing an elongated P-B bond (2.114(12) Å), which is noticeably larger than the sum of the covalent radii of the elements.

N,N'-fused bisphosphole: heteroaromatic molecule with two-coordinate and formally divalent phosphorus. Synthesis, electronic structure, and chemical properties.

The reduction of 6,12-dichloro-1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10-octahydro-6H,12H-[1,2,3]benzodiazaphospholo[2,1-a][1,2,3]benzodiazaphosphole (3) by metallic magnesium in tetrahydrofuran (THF) affords the N,N'-fused bisphosphole 1 in 92% yield. The compound reveals a novel type of 10π-electron heteroaromatic system [NICS(0) = -11.4], containing a two-coordinate and formally divalent phosphorus atom. Compound 1 possesses a much higher coordination activity than many other diazaphospholes. This is caused by a novel type of complexation to a metal ion wherein the lone phosphorus pairs are not involved in metal coordination. Instead, the 10π-electron heteroaromatic system provides two electrons for P → M bond formation. Polarization of the ligand results in the formation of extended molecular associates or cluster compounds. Complexes of 1 with mercury dichloride [{(1)3HgCl}2(µ6-Cl)](+)Cl(-) (7) and tin dichlorides [1·SnCl2(PhMe solvate)] (8a) and [1·SnCl2] (8b) are, in fact, supramolecular in nature, containing multiple intermolecular short contacts. Crystals of complex 8a containing short Sn···Sn packing interactions were converted reversibly to metallic tin after workup with THF. The simple mixing of 1 and 3 (1:1) gave a P-P bridging dimeric species prone to easy dissociation. The addition of GeCl2(diox) to the equimolar mixture of 1 and 3 shifted the equilibrium to the formation of a poorly soluble salt-like dimer 6, which is, in fact, a stacked 18π-electron dication having a through-space delocalization of π electrons.

The intramolecular rearrangement of phosphinohydrazides [R'2P-NR-NR-M] → [RN═PR'2-NR-M]: general rules and exceptions. transformations of bulky phosphinohydrazines (R-NH-N(PPh2)2, R = tBu, Ph2P).

Reactions of diphosphinohydrazines R-NH-N(PPh(2))(2) (R = tBu (1), Ph(2)P (3)) with some metalation reagents (Co[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2), LiN(SiMe(3))(2), La[N(SiMe(3))(2)](3), nBuLi, MeLi) were performed. Compound 1 was synthesized by the reaction of Ph(2)PCl with tert-butylhydrazine hydrochloride in 83% yield. This compound reveals temperature-dependent (31)P NMR spectra due to hindered rotation about the P-N bonds. Complicated redox reaction of 1 with Co[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2) proceeds with cleavage of the P-N and N-N bonds to form a binuclear cobalt complex [Co{HN(PPh(2))(2)-κ(2)P,P'}(2)(µ-PPh(2))](2) (2) demonstrating a short Co···Co distance of 2.3857(5) Å, which implies a formal double bond between the Co atoms. Strong nucleophiles (nBuLi, MeLi) cause fragmentation of the molecules 1 and 3, while reactions of 3 with lithium and lanthanum silylamides give products of the NNP → NPN rearrangement [Li{Ph(2)P(NPPh(2))(2)-κ(2)N,N'}(THF)(2)] (4) and [La{Ph(2)P(NPPh(2))(2)-κ(2)N,N'}{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2)] (5), respectively. These complexes represent the first examples of a κ(2)N,N' bonding mode for the triphosphazenide ligand [(Ph(2)PN)(2)PPh(2)](-). DFT calculations showed large energy gain (52.1 kcal/mol) of the [NNP](-) to [NPN](-) anion rearrangement.