Synthesis,structure, and redox properties of the extremely crowded triarylpnictogens: tris(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)phosphine,arsine, stibine,and bismuthine

A series of the extremely crowded triarylpnitogens, tris(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)phosphine (1), arsine (2), stibine (3), and bismuthine (4), were synthesized by the reaction of 2,4,6-triisopropylphenylcopper(I) with the corresponding pnictogen trichlorides. Introducion of the three bulky aryl groups resulted in the unusual structures and redox properties, which were studied by X-ray crystallography and cyclic voltammetry. The triarylpnictogens 1, 2, and 3 had extremely large bond angles around pnictogen atoms (1: 111.5 degrees , 2: 109.2 degrees , 3: 106.7 degrees ), and not only 1 and 2, but also stibine 3 displayed a reversible redox wave in the cyclic voltammograms at very low potentials (1: 0.16 V, 2: 0.50 V, 3: 0.57 V vs Ag/Ag+), which suggests considerable stability of the corresponding cation radicals.     

A new tris(ferrocenylamine) ditertiary phosphine: Synthesis and co-ordination studies

The new tris(ferrocenylamine) ditertiary phosphine 1,1′-{FcCH₂N(CH₂PPh₂)CH₂(η⁵-C₅H₄)}₂Fe [Fc = (η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)] has been prepared along with two coordination complexes. All compounds have been characterised by a combination of spectroscopic and analytical methods. The single crystal X-ray structure of the pentametallic Ru₂Fe₃ complex 5 has been determined.     

Gallium(III) halide complexes with phosphines,arsines and phosphine oxides – a comparative study

The phosphine oxide complexes [GaX₃(Me₃PO)] and [(GaX₃)₂{μ-o-C₆H₄(CH₂P(O)Ph₂)₂}] have been prepared and characterised by microanalysis, IR and multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, ³¹P{¹H} and ⁷¹Ga) spectroscopy. The structures of [GaCl₃(Me₃PO)], [(GaBr₃)₂{μ-o-C₆H₄(CH₂P(O)Ph₂)₂}] and of the ionic product [GaI₂(Me₃PO)₂][GaI₄] have been determined and show that the Lewis acidity of the gallium halides towards phosphinoyl ligands diminishes as the halogen becomes heavier. The [GaX₃(Ph₃E)] (X = Cl, Br or I; E = P or As) and [(GaX₃)₂{μ-o-C₆H₄(CH₂PPh₂)₂}] (X = Br or I) have been prepared and their structural and spectroscopic properties compared with those of the phosphinoyl complexes. The results, and competitive solution NMR studies, show that Ga(III) binds the hard R₃PO in preference to the softer phosphine or arsine ligands. Hydrolysis of gallium(III) phosphines is shown to lead to [R₃PH][GaX₄], but in contrast to some other p-block halides, GaX₃ do not promote air-oxidation of R₃P to R₃PO.     

Titanium(IV) terminal hydroxo complexes containing chelating bis(phosphine oxide) ligands

Treatment of [L_OEtTi(OTf)₃] (, OTf⁻ = triflate) with S-binapO₂ (binap = 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphinoyl)-1,1′-binaphthyl) afforded the terminal hydroxo complex [L_OEtTi(S-binapO₂)(OH)][OTf]₂ (1). Treatment of [L_OEtTi(OTf)₃] with K(tpip) (tpip⁻ = [N(Ph₂PO)₂]⁻) afforded [L_OEtTi(tpip)(OTf)][OTf] (2) that reacted with CsOH to give [L_OEtTi(tpip)(OH)][OTf] (3). The structures of 1 and 2 have been determined.     

One-pot synthesis of ultra-branched mixed tetradentate tripodal phosphines and phosphine chalcogenides

Ultra-branched mixed tetradentate tripodal phosphines and phosphine chalcogenides have been synthesized by the exhaustive regioselective addition of secondary phosphines, phosphine sulfides and phosphine selenides to available tris(4-vinylbenzyl)phosphine oxide under free-radical conditions (UV irradiation or AIBN) in good to excellent yields.     

Rapid geometrical equilibrium of palladium(II) complexes with tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phosphine disulfide and diselenide and their catalytic activity for Suzuki coupling reaction

Palladium(II) complexes with a tetradentate pseudo-tripodal ligand having two phosphino groups and two phosphine sulfide or selenide groups, pp₃X₂ (pp₃ = tris[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phosphine, X = S (1) or Se (2)), were prepared from [PdCl(pp₃)]Cl. Both of these phosphine chalcogenide complexes 1 and 2 showed rapid equilibrium between the five-coordinate [PdCl(pp₃X₂)]Cl with two bound phosphine chalcogenide groups and four-coordinate [PdCl₂(pp₃X₂)] with two dissociated pendant ones in chloroform. The thermodynamic parameters for the reaction, [PdCl(pp₃X₂)]⁺ + Cl⁻?[PdCl₂(pp₃X₂)], were obtained by low-temperature ³¹P NMR as follows: K²⁹⁸ = 3.7 × 10³ and 5.4 × 10² mol⁻¹, ΔH^° = 11.3 ± 0.3 and 13.4 ± 0.4 kJ mol⁻¹, and ΔS^° = 106 ± 2 and 97 ± 2 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ for 1 and 2, respectively. The rate for the geometrical change at 246.7 K for 1 was appreciably faster than that for 2. These thermodynamic and kinetic results indicate that the phosphine selenide Se atoms can stabilize the five-coordinate structure by effective π-back donation from Pd(II) compared with the phosphine sulfide S atoms. Difference in retention of the catalytic activity for Suzuki coupling, 2 > 1 > [PdCl(pp₃ or p₃)]Cl, was explained by difference in the π-accepting ability that stabilizes the catalytically active Pd(0) species. Considering the rapid dissociation-coordination equilibrium of the phosphine chalcogenide groups on Pd(II), it is probable that the oxidative addition and the subsequent transmetallation of the Pd(II) species are hardly blocked by the phosphine chalcogenide groups.     

Tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl versus tris(trimethylsilyl)germyl: Radical reactivity and oxidation ability

A comparison of the tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl I and tris(trimethylsilyl)germyl II radical reactivity is provided. Their formation as well as their reactivity encountered in a large variety of chemical processes (addition to double bond, halogen abstraction, peroxyl radical formation…) is examined by laser flash photolysis, quantum mechanical calculations and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments. The starting compound (TMS)₃GeH is more reactive than (TMS)₃SiH toward the t-butoxyl, the t-butylperoxyl and the phosphinoyl radicals. A similar behavior is noted for an aromatic ketone triplet state. II exhibits a lower absolute electronegativity: accordingly, the addition to electron rich alkenes is less efficient than for I. Radical II is also found less reactive for both the peroxylation and the halogen abstraction reactions. The rearrangement of is slower than for ; this is related to the respective exothermicity of the processes.     

1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopic studies of tris(phenylthio)arsine and dimethyl(phenylthio)arsine

The proton and carbon-13 NMR spectra of solutions in CDCl₃ of dimethyl(phenylthio)arsine and tris(phenylthio)arsine where investigated. All resolved experimental resonances were assigned and the coupling constants determined by means of an iterative procedure employing the LAO-COON3 program. The spectra were simulated using Gaussian—Lorentzian lineshapes. The protons in the 2,6- and 3,5-positions were found to be equivalent. The resonances appear in the sequence δ_2,6 ⪢ δ_3,5 ⪢ δ₄ and δ_2,6 ⪢ δ₄ ⪢ δ_3,5 for dimethyl(phenylthio)arsine and tris(phenylthio)arsine, respectively. Whereas the protons in the 2,6-positions resonate at the same frequency (7.44 ppm) in the two compounds, the shifts for the 3,5- and 4-protons of tris(phenylthio)arsine are downfield from those of dimethyl(phenylthio)arsine. These differences are explained in terms of the hypothesis that the conformation of the rigid tris(phenylthio)arsine molecule does not allow overlap between the sulfur atomholding the lone electron pair and the π-ring orbital to the same extent as in dimethyl(phenylthio)arsine; in which the phenyl group can oscillate about an equilibrium position characterized by maximal p_s-π-ring overlap.     

Molecular mechanics (MM2) calculations and cone angles of phosphine ligands

Molecular mechanics (MM2) calculations were performed on 54 conformations of 18 phosphines (PH₃; PH_3−nR_n, where n = 1,…3, and R = Me and Et, n = 1 or 2 and R =ⁱPr, and n = 1 and R =^tBu, PMe₂Et, PMeEt₂, and PPhMe₂, and PPh₂R where R = Me, Et, ⁱPr, ^tBu and Ph). The results are compared to those previously obtained from MINDO/3 and MNDO calculations, and to experimental data. Single conformer cone angles and weighted average cone angles were calculated from MM2 optimized geometries employing Tolman's general definition, and they are compared to Tolman's values, MINDO/3 results, and T.L. Brown's E_R values. Of the cone angle definitions used, the weighted average values are suggested as the best single representation of phosphine ligand sizes. The steric parameters (cone angle and E_R values) alone, and in conjunction with electronic parameters, are correlated with experimental data.     

(Fluoroalkyl)phosphine complexes of nickel(0) and cobalt(I)

The synthesis of a series of (fluoroalkyl)phosphine complexes of nickel is reported. Treatment of (cod)₂Ni with dfepe (dfepe=(C₂F₅)₂PCH₂CH₂P(C₂F₅)₂) yields (dfepe)Ni(cod) (1), which has been structurally characterized. Treatment of 1 with CO or bipy results in the formation of (dfepe)Ni(CO)₂ (2) and (dfepe)Ni(bipy) (3), respectively. Addition of excess dfepe to 1 results in incomplete cod displacement to form (dfepe)₂Ni (4). The homoleptic complex 4 may be independently prepared in high yield by reduction of (acac)₂Ni with (ⁱBu)₃Al in the presence of butadiene and excess dfepe. Solvation of (dfepe)Ni(cod) in acetonitrile gives a new complex tentatively identified as (dfepe)Ni(MeCN)₂ (6), whereas dissolution of (dfepe)₂Ni in acetonitrile leads to a mixture of 6 and the partial displacement product (dfepe)(η¹-dfepe)Ni(MeCN) (5). In contrast to (R₃P)₄Ni(0) phosphine and phosphite complexes, which undergo protonation by strong anhydrous acids such as HCl, H₂SO₄ and CF₃CO₂H to give (R₃P)₄Ni(H)⁺ products, Treatment of (dfepe)₂Ni with neat CF₃CO₂H or excess HOTf in dichloromethane gave no spectroscopic evidence for (dfepe)₂Ni(H)⁺. Exposure for extended periods leads to dfepe loss and decomposition to Ni(II) products. The synthesis of the first cobalt complex of dfepe, (dfepe)Co(CO)₂H, is also reported.     

New trigonal tris(phosphine oxides)

The reaction of 1,1,1-tris(chloromethyl)propane with diphenylphosphine under phase-transfer conditions afforded 1,1,1-tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)propane, whose oxidation gave a previously unknown representative of trigonal tris(phosphine oxides), viz., stable 1,1,1-tris(diphenylphosphorylmethyl)propane. Its analogs, viz., bis(diphenylphosphoryl)diphenylphosphinomethane and tris(diphenylphosphoryl)methane, are unstable in air and decompose with the cleavage of the P-C bond.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1926–1929, September, 2004.