Special features in the chemical structure of phosphorus isocyanates

The UV and IR absorption spectra and the NMR and NQR spectra of certain isocyanates of three- and four-coordinated phosphorus have been investigated. The reciprocal effect of the phosphorus atom and the NCO group is discussed on the basis of spectral analysis, quantum chemical calculations of the electron systems, and calculations of the normal vibrational forms. Comparison of the (PO) frequencies in the IR spectra of the phosphorus isocyanates with the Taft gives a linear relationship which testifies to the predominant inductive effect of the NCO group on the P(O)R₁R₂ grouping. A similar relationship is observed between the resonance frequency _res in the NMR spectra and for C1P(O)R₁R₂ compounds. The effect of the phosphorus atom on the electronic system in the NCO group is shown by the hypsochromic shift of the absorption band in the210-m region and an appreciable increase in its intensity, compared with alkyl isocyanates. This fact, which agrees with the NMR spectral data and the quantum chemical calculations, indicates the presence of conjugation in the P-N bond. We found the order of the P-N bond to be approximately 1.2. This partial double-bond nature of the P-N bond results from the interaction of the p electrons of nitrogen in the NCO group with the d orbitals of the phosphorus atom.We are grateful to our colleagues at the Kazan Physicotechnical Institute AS USSR A. I. Rivkind, S. G. Salikhov, and I. A. Safin for recording the spectra.