Syntheses and reactivity of novel unsaturated cyclic compounds containing phosphorus atoms

Kinetic stabilization of compounds containing heavy main-group elements through the use of bulky substituents is of current interest. The widely used 2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl group (Mes*) is recognized as a powerful bulky protecting group and has enabled us to successfully prepare various types of phosphorus compounds with unusual structures. When a phosphaalkyne carrying Mes* was treated with tBuLi and then quenched with MeOH, a 1,3-diphosphacyclobutene was obtained, whereas, when MeI was used as a quencher, a 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl was formed almost quantitatively as a stable biradical compound. The reaction mechanism for the formation of both compounds can be explained by a phosphide intermediate, which can be formed via dimerization of the phosphaalkyne promoted by tBuLi. Some other diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyls with various substituents were prepared in a similar fashion and showed interesting reactivities including ring expansion, oxidation, isomerization and so on.     

Preparation, properties, and catalytic activity of transition-metal complexes containing a ligated 2-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1,3-diphosphapropene skeleton

2-Methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphapropene behaved as an unsymmetrical chelating ligand for transition metal complexes and the 1,3-diphosphapropene moiety was hydrolyzed to afford the 1,3-diphosphapropan-1-ol derivative upon coordination. The palladium complex showed catalytic activity for the Sonogashira coupling reaction.     

Preparation and reactions of 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyls that feature an amino substituent and/or a carbonyl group

The preparation and properties of a 1-amino-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl and a 1-benzoyl-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl, which can be regarded as functionalized cyclic biradical derivatives, were investigated. Hydrolysis of 1-diisopropylamino-3-methyl-2,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl (7), which is formed by reaction of Mes*C[triple chemical bond]P (4; Mes*=2,4,6-tBu(3)C(6)H(2)) with lithium diisopropylamide and iodomethane, resulted in ring-opening of the 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl skeleton, as well as de-aromatization of one of the Mes* rings. 3-Oxo-1,3-diphosphapropene 8 and 7-phosphabicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(8),2,4-triene 9 were the resultant products, and these were subsequently characterized. Isomerization and oxidation of 7 occurred in the presence of TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinoxy) to give the first example of a cyclic dimethylenephosphorane derivative, namely 3-oxo-1,3-diphospha-1,4-diene 10. 1-Benzoyl-3-tert-butyl-2,4-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl (12) was isolated and characterized from the reaction of 4 with tert-butyllithium and benzoyl chloride. Compound 12 was subsequently heated and underwent rearrangement of the benzoyl group and ring-expansion to afford 1-oxo-1H-[1,3]diphosphole 13. Reaction of 4 with lithium diisopropylamide and benzoyl chloride afforded the 2H-[1,2,4]oxadiphosphinine 15, which was probably formed through the 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl intermediate 14. Thermolysis of 15 afforded 1-oxo-1H-[1,3]diphosphole 16 in an Arbuzov-type rearrangement.     

Preparations and properties of polymers containing 3,4-bis[(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)phosphinidene]-1,2-di(2-thienyl)cyclobutene moieties

Reaction of 1,8-bis[5-{(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)phosphinoethynyl}-2-thienyl]octane with butyllithium followed by treatment with 1,2-dibromoethane afforded a new polymer containing 3,4-bis[(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)phosphinidene]-1,2-di(2-thienyl)cyclobutene units. The polymer was allowed to react with bis(benzonitrile)dichloropalladium to give the polymer complex. A Sonogashira coupling reaction between ethynyltrimethylsilane and 4-bromonitrobenzene proceeded in DMF at 100 °C to give 4-nitro(trimethylsilylethynyl)benzene in the presence of the polymer complex, CuI, and triethylamine.     

Observation of a Metastable P‐Heterocyclic Radical by Muonium Addition to a 1,3‐Diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl

A 1,3‐diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl contains a unique unsaturated cyclic unit, and the presence of radical‐type centers have been expected as a source of functionality. This study demonstrates that the P‐heterocyclic singlet biradical captures muonium (Mu=[μ⁺e^?]), the light isotope of a hydrogen radical, to generate an observable P‐heterocyclic paramagnetic species. Investigation of a powder sample of 2,4‐bis(2,4,6‐tri‐t‐butylphenyl)‐1‐t‐butyl‐3‐benzyl‐1,3‐diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl using muon (avoided) level‐crossing resonance (μLCR) spectroscopy revealed that muonium adds to the cyclic P₂C₂ unit. The muon hyperfine coupling constant (A_μ) indicated that the phosphorus atom bearing the t‐butyl group trapped muonium to provide a metastable P‐heterocyclic radical involving the ylidic MuP(<)=C moiety. The observed regioselective muonium addition correlates the canonical formula of 1,3‐diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl.     

Facile [3+2] dimerization and formal dehydrogenative coupling mode of a cyanophenylphosphaallene

Due to a facile head-to-tail [3+2] dimerization, even a sterically demanding group such as the Mes^∗ (2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl) group around the PCC moiety did not allow us to isolate 3-(4-cyanophenyl)-1-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-phosphaallene from the elimination reaction of 2-bromo-3-(4-cyanophenyl)-1-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-phosphaprop-1-ene with DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene), and the corresponding 1,4-diphosphafulvene containing cyano groups was obtained and characterized. Theoretical studies on the [3+2] dimerization of phosphaallene characterize possible intermediates affording 1,4-diphosphafulvenes and also suggest the cyano group effect to facilitate the saturation of the PC double bonds. On the other hand, 1,2-bis(4-cyanophenyl)-3,4-bis[(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)phosphinidene]cyclobutene was obtained from 2-bromo-3-(4-cyanophenyl)-3-trimethylsiloxy-1-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-phosphaprop-1-ene together with the 3-(4-cyanophenyl)-1-phosphaallene.     

Muon Spin Rotation/Resonance (μSR) for Studying Radical Reactivity of Unsaturated Organophosphorus Compounds

The positive muon (μ⁺) can be regarded as a light isotope of proton and has been an important tool to study radical reactions of organic compounds. Recently, muons have been applied to produce short-lived paramagnetic species from the heavier unsaturated organic molecules including the p-block elements. This article overviews recent muon spin rotation/resonance (μSR) studies on the phosphorus analogs of alkenes, anthracenes, and cyclobutane-1,3-diyls together with the fundamentals of μSR. The acyclic phosphaalkene of P=C and phosphasilenes of P=Si can accept muonium (Mu=[μ⁺e⁻]) at the heavier double bonds, and the corresponding radicals have been characterized. The phosphorus atom in 9-phosphaanthracene, whose P=C double bond is stabilized by the peri-substituted CF₃ groups, predominantly captures muonium to provide the corresponding paramagnetic fused heterocyclic system. The peri-trifluoromethyl groups are functional to promote the unprecedented light isotope effect of muon providing the planar three-cyclic molecular structure to consume the increased zero-point energy. The formally open-shell singlet 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl unit can accept muonium at the (ylidic) phosphorus or the skeletal radicalic carbon, and the corresponding paramagnetic phosphorus heterocycles can be characterized by μSR. The findings on these muoniation processes to the unsaturated phosphorus-containing compounds will contribute not only to development of novel paramagnetic functional species but also to progress on muon science.     

Synthesis and properties of oligo(biradicals) composed of 1,3‐diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl units and benzyl‐type linkers

We have succeeded in catenating two sterically encumbered 1,3‐di‐t‐butyl‐2,4‐bis(2,4,6‐tri‐t‐butylphenyl)‐1,3‐diphosphacyclobutane‐2,4‐diyl units with a spacer 1,2‐(CH₂)₂C₆H₄ to obtain bis(biradicals) as considerably stable compounds. We have discussed physicochemical properties of the dimer, together with DFT calculations of model compounds. Spectroscopic data, redox properties, and X‐ray structures of the oligo(biradicals) derivatives including other spacers like 1,3‐(CH₂)₂C₆H₄, 1,4‐(CH₂)₂C₆H₄, and 1,3,5‐(CH₂)₃C₆H₃, reveal that the P‐heterocyclic biradical moieties interact through nonconjugative pathways. These properties of oligo(biradicals) will facilitate to design novel molecular systems for electronics. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 21:404–411, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20625     

Valence Isomerization of a 1,3-Diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl: Photochemical Ring Closure to 2,4-diphosphabicyclo[1.1.0]butane and Its Thermal Ring Opening to gauche-1,4-Diphosphabutadiene

The bond stretch isomer 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl 1 was transformed photochemically to give the previously unknown 2,4-diphosphabicyclo[1.1.0]butane 2 , which itself can be converted thermally into gauche-1,4-diphosphabutadiene 3 . The crystal structures of these three energy-rich valence isomers of 1,2-diphosphete have been determined. R=SiMe₃; Mes*=2,4,6-tBu₃C₆H₂.     

EPR characterization of new phosphavinyl σ radicals

A number of radicals have been added to 1,3-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)diphospha-allene at low temperature in cyclopropane solution. Addition of thiyl and alkoxyl radicals occurs regiospecifically to one of the phosphorus atoms leading to new phosphavinyl radicals, isoelectronic with vinyl radicals, which have been characterised by means of EPR spectroscopy. The results of ab initio calculations are in agreement with the experimentally determined spectral parameters and suggest that these radicals are bent, with a PCP bond angle of ca. 150°. In contrast, silyl and germyl radicals appear to add to the carbon atom of the phosphaallene.     

1,3-Diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl-2-ylidenide: A Unique Carbene and Its Trimethylalane Complex

A unique bonding situation is displayed by the lithium 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl-2-ylidenide 2 ⋅[Li(thf)_n]⁺ (Ar=2,4,6-tBu₃C₆H₂) obtained by deprotonation of 1 . According to ab initio calculations, the anion 2 can viewed as a cyclic bis(phosphanyl)carbene. Reaction with trimethylaluminum gives the complex 3 ⋅[Li(thf)₄]⁺ , whose crystal structure is presented.     

Reactions of 1,2-di(2-thienyl)-3,4-bis[(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)phosphinidene]cyclobutene

Reactions of a sterically protected 1,2-di(2-thienyl)-3,4-bis[(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)phosphinidene]cyclobutene were investigated. The diphosphinidenecyclobutene reacted with elemental sulfur or transition metal reagents to form a thiaphosphirane derivative or the corresponding transition metal complexes, respectively. Reactions of the di(2-thienyl)diphosphinidenecyclobutene with butyllithium followed by treatment with electrophiles afforded functionalized di(2-thienyl)diphosphinidenecyclobutene derivatives.     

1,3-Diphosphapropenes for novel chemistry of metal complexes

2-Methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl)-1,3-diphosphapropene was obtained as a chelate ligand for palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes. Sulfurization of 2-methyl-1,3-diphosphapropene mainly gave 3-thioxo-1,3-diphosphapropene which bears a PC-PS skeleton and was used as a ligand of transition-metal complexes. A doubly-sulfurized product of the 1,3-diphosphapropene, 1,3-dithioxo-1,3-diphosphapropene, was isolated and characterized. The palladium(II) complexes containing the ligated 1,3-diphosphapropenes were used for catalytic reactions such as cross-couplings and direct conversion of allyl alcohol to allylaniline.     

Preparation and X-ray analyses of siloxane-bridged acyclic and 8-membered cyclic phosphaethenes

Two Mes¹PC (Mes¹ = 2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenyl) parts were successfully combined with one or two disiloxane chain(s) by the reaction of 2-silyl-1-phosphaethenyllithium with dichlorotetramethyldisiloxane, and the structures of bis(1-bromo-2-phosphaethenyl)disiloxane and 3,7-diphosphinidene-2,2,4,4,6,6,8,8-octamethyl-1,5-dioxa-2,4,6,8-tetrasilacyclooctane were characterized by spectroscopic analyses and X-ray crystallography.     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF KINETICALLY STABILIZED 1,3-DIPHOSPHACYCLOBUTENE DERIVATIVES

1-(2,4,6-Tri-tert-butylphenyl)-2-phosphaethyne (1) was allowed to react with 0.5 equiv of an alkyllithium and subsequently with an alcohol to afford a bulky 1,3-diphosphacyclobutene, and its structure and coordination properties on transition metals were investigated. On the other hand, 1 was allowed to react with an alkyllithium and iodomethane to form a stable biradical, 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl.     

Silver tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropoxy)aluminate as hexafluoroisopropyl transfer reagent for the chlorine/hexafluoroisopropyl exchange in imino phosphanes

Treating 1,3-dichloro-2,4-bis[tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl]-cyclo-diphosphadiazane, [HypNPCl]₂ ((Me₃Si)₃Si = Hyp), or N-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)imino(chloro)phosphane, Mes^∗-NP-Cl (Mes^∗ = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl), with Ag[Al(OCH(CF₃)₂)₄] leads to the abstraction of [OCH(CF₃)₂]⁻ from the counter ion [Al(OCH(CF₃)₂)₄]⁻ in a formal Lewis acid/Lewis base reaction. The final products Hyp₂N₂P₂(Cl)(OCH(CF₃)₂), Mes^∗-NP-OCH(CF₃)₂ and the dimeric Lewis acid [Al(OCH(CF₃)₂)₃]₂ have been characterized by means of X-ray analysis.     

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

The activation of C−Br bonds in various bromoalkanes by the biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P⋅] ( 1 ) (Ter=2,6-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-phenyl) is reported, yielding trans-addition products of the type [Br−P(μ-NTer)₂P−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)₂P-R].< To provide further evidence for the radical mechanism, [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et] ( 3Et ⋅) was synthesized directly by reduction of the bromoethane addition product [Br-P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et] ( 2 a ) with magnesium, resulting in the formation of the persistent phosphorus-centered monoradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-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)₂P-Et] radical clearly proves the existence of radicals over the course of the reaction of biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P⋅] ( 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)₂P⋅] 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.     

ESCA STUDIES OF A DIPHOSPHENE

Abstract

The nature of the P[dbnd]P bond in E-bis(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)diphosphene was studied by means of ESCA, indicating that the phosphorus 2p binding energy is the lowest among those for common organophosphorus compounds.     

BNN-1,3-dipoles: isolation and intramolecular cycloaddition with unactivated arenes

The mono-base-stabilized 1,2-diboranylidenehydrazine derivatives featuring a 1,3-dipolar BNN skeleton are obtained by dehydrobromination of [ArB(Br)NH]₂ (Ar = 2,6-diphenylphenyl (Dpp), Ar = 2,6-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phenyl (Dmp) or Ar = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl (Mes*)) with N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). Depending on the Ar substituents, such species can be isolated as a crystalline solid (Ar = Mes*) or generated as reactive intermediates undergoing spontaneous intramolecular aminoboration of the proximal arene rings via [3 + 2] cycloaddition (Ar = Dpp or Dmp). The latter reactions showcase the 1,3-dipolar reactivity toward unactivated arenes at ambient temperature. In addition, double cycloaddition of the isolable BNN species with two CO₂ molecules affords a bicyclic species consisting of two fused five-membered BN₂CO rings. The electronic structures of these BNN species and the mechanisms of these cascade reactions are interrogated through density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

The mono-base-coordinated 1,2-diboranylidenehydrazine derivatives exhibiting the BNN-1,3-dipolar reactivity toward unactivated arenes and CO₂ are reported.     

Phosphasila-, phosphagerma-, and phosphaarsaallenes --P=C=E (E = Si,Ge, As) and arsa- and diarsaallenes --As=C=E" (E" = C,As)

The paper reviews the contribution from our group to the studies of heteroallenes. The transient 1,3-phosphasilaallene ArP=C=Si(Ph)Tip (Ar = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl, Tip = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl) and 1,3-phosphagermaallene ArP=C=GeMes₂ (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) were characterized below –40 °C by NMR spectroscopy and chemical trapping. These compounds dimerize above –40 °C through two routes. With increased steric hindrance on germanium, the phosphagermaallene ArP=C=Ge(Bu^t)Tip was stabilized as monomer at room temperature. 3-Chloro-2-lithio-1,3-phosphasilapropene ArP=C(Li)Si(Cl)CMeR₂ (CMeR₂ = 9-methylfluorenyl) behaves, at least in some cases, as a synthetic equivalent of the functionalizable allene ArP=C=Si(Cl)CMeR₂. Arsaallene ArAs=C=CR₂, phosphaarsaallenes ArP=C=AsAr and ArP=C=AsDmt (Dmt = 2,6-dimesityl-4-methylphenyl), and diarsaallene ArAs=C=AsAr exhibit a higher thermal, air, and moisture stability than the above phosphasilaallenes and phosphagermaallenes. The physicochemical data for the arsaallenes and diarsaallenes, particularly, their X-ray structural parameters, display a bonding system close to allenes. On going down the Periodic table, the stabilization becomes more difficult. For this reason, tin allenic derivatives are very rare and antimony allenic compounds have not yet been isolated.