Catalytic phenomena in the electrochemical reduction of triphenylphosphine and triphenylphosphine oxide in non-aqueous solvents with tetraalkylammonium supporting electrolytes

Polarography, cyclic voltammetry and coulometry reveal that a catalytic reduction of the tetraalkylammonium cation, R₄N⁺, of the supporting electrolyte is involved in the electrochemical reduction of triphenylphosphine (TPP) and its oxide (TPPO) in aprotic solvents such as acetonitrile, dimethylformamide and hexamethylphosphoramide. There is however progressive consumption of TPP and TPPO resulting in the final formation of phenyl substitution products (RPØ₂ and ROPØ₂). Comparison with the reduction of the BuPØ₃⁺ cation allows to propose the following mechanism which involves a chemical type catalytic process:

1. Download full-size image

Redox type catalytic mechanisms are discussed and shown to be unlikely. Values of the alkylation rate constant are derived from the polarographic or the coulometric data or from cyclic voltammetry according to its magnitude which varies with the solvent. TPP anion radical appears as more readily alkylable than TPPO anion radical.     

Highly efficient and selective olefination of acyl phosphonates with ethyl diazoacetate catalyzed by a cobalt(II) porphyrin complex

The cobalt(II) porphyrin complex (CoTPP) was found to be an efficient catalyst for the Wittig type olefination of acyl phosphonates with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) in the presence of triphenylphosphine (Ph₃P). By using this one pot methodology under mild conditions, densely functionalized vinyl phosphonates were obtained in high yields and high E/Z selectivities in relatively short reaction times. A rather broad substrate spectrum and steric influence on the reaction rate were observed.     

Conversion between Difluorocarbene and Difluoromethylene Ylide

The interconversion between difluoromethylene ylide and difluorocarbene is described. The difluoromethylene ylide precursor, Ph₃P⁺CF₂CO₂^?, could be turned into an efficient difluorocarbene reagent, whereas the classical difluorocarbene reagents, HCF₂Cl and FSO₂CF₂CO₂TMS, could generate highly reactive difluoromethylene ylide. Thus the Wittig difluoro‐olefination and difluorocyclopropanation could be selectively realized by using the same reagent. In addition, the ylides obtained from different carbene sources showed different reactivity in Wittig reactions.     

Brønsted Acid Promoted Reduction of Tertiary Phosphine Oxides

Recently, Brønsted acids, such as phosphoric acids, carboxylic acids, and triflic acid, were found to catalyze the reduction of phosphine oxides to the corresponding phosphines. In this study, we fully characterize the HCl, HOTf, and Me₂SiHOTf adducts of triphenylphosphine oxide and find that the thermally stable adduct Ph₃POH⁺OTf^– is efficiently converted into triphenylphosphine at 100 °C in the presence of readily available hydrosiloxanes. Under the same reaction conditions, also Ph₃POSiMe₂H⁺OTf^– selectively affords triphenylphosphine indicating that silylated phosphine oxides are likely intermediates in this process.     

Cyclopentadienylcobalt Complexes Containing Two Phosphine Ligands

The ionic complexes [C₅H₅Co(L)(Ph₂PMe)I]⁺ [I]^- (L = Ph₃P and Ph₂PMe) were prepared by the reactions of cyclopentadienyl(triphenylphosphine)cobalt and cyclopentadienyl(methyldiphenylphosphine)cobalt diiodides with methyldiphenylphosphine. The treatment of these complexes with sodium tetraphenylborate results in the formation of [C₅H₅Co(L)(Ph₂PMe)I]⁺[BPh₄]^- compounds.     

Coordination Complexes of Ph3Sb2+ and Ph3Bi2+: Beyond Pnictonium Cations

The syntheses of salts containing ligand‐stabilized Ph₃Sb²⁺ and Ph₃Bi²⁺ dications have been realized by in situ formation of Ph₃Pn(OTf)₂ (Pn=Sb or Bi) and subsequent reaction with OPPh₃, dmap and bipy. The solid‐state structures demonstrate diversity imposed by the steric demands and nature of the ligands. The synthetic method has the potential for broad application enabling widespread development of the coordination chemistry for Pn^V acceptors.     

In the footsteps of August Michaelis: Syntheses and Thermodynamics of Extremely Low-Volatile Ionic Liquids

A series of nine different known ionic liquids or low melting salts was synthesised and purified. They are composed of the [NTf₂]^– (bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide), [OTf]^– (trifluoro-methane-sulfonate), or [B(CN)₄]^– (tetracyanidoborate) anion and [Ph₄P]⁺ (tetraphenylphosphonium), [Ph₃BzP]⁺ (triphenylbenzyl phosphonium), [ⁿBu₄P]⁺ (tetra-ⁿbutylphosphonium), [ⁿBuPh₃P]⁺ (tri-phenyl-ⁿbutylphosphonium), [ⁿBu₄N]⁺ (tetra-ⁿbutylammonium), or the [PPN]⁺ (bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium) cation. Precise vapour pressure data and enthalpies of vaporisation were measured using the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) method and evaluated. Structure-property relations are established using the obtained data as well as literature known data of ILs with alkyl-substituted imidazolium cations. It turns out that ILs with the tetracyanidoborate anion have even higher values of the enthalpy of vaporisation than those with the common [NTf₂]⁻ or [OTf]⁻ anion and therefore are even less volatile.     

P−P Condensation and P−N/P−P Bond Metathesis: Facile Synthesis of Cationic Tri- and Tetraphosphanes

[L_C^RP((PhP)₂C₂H₄)][OTf] ( 4 a,b [OTf]) and [L_C^iPrP(PPh₂)₂][OTf] ( 5 b [OTf]) were prepared from the reaction of imidazoliumyl-substituted dipyrazolylphosphane triflate salts [L_C^RP(pyr)₂][OTf] ( 3 a,b [OTf]; a : R=Me, b =iPr; L_C^R=1,3-dialkyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-yl; pyr=3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl) with the secondary phosphanes PhP(H)C₂H₄P(H)Ph) and Ph₂PH. A stepwise double P−N/P−P bond metathesis to catena-tetraphosphane-2,3-diium triflate salt [(Ph₂P)₂(L_C^MeP)₂][OTf]₂ ( 7 a [OTf]₂) is observed when reacting 3 a [OTf] with diphosphane P₂Ph₄. The coordination ability of 5 b [OTf] was probed with selected coinage metal salts [Cu(CH₃CN)₄]OTf, AgOTf and AuCl(tht) (tht=tetrahydrothiophene). For AuCl(tht), the helical complex [{(Ph₂PPL_C^iPr)Au}₄][OTf]₄ ( 9 [OTf]₄) was unexpectedly formed as a result of a chloride-induced P−P bond cleavage. The weakly coordinating triflate anion enables the formation of the expected copper(I) and silver(I) complexes [( 5 b )M(CH₃CN)₃][OTf]₂ (M=Cu, Ag) ( 10 [OTf]₂, 11 [OTf]₂).     

A short synthesis of 3-enoyltetramic acids employing a new acyl ylide conjugate of Meldrum’s acid

2,2-Dimethyl-5-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)acetyl-1,3-dioxan-4,6-dione (3) is a new activated β-ketoacyl equivalent, readily prepared in quantitative yield by reaction of Meldrum’s acid with the stable ylide Ph₃PCCO. Its reaction with α-amino esters affords the corresponding N-(β-ketoacyl)amino ester ylides which, when treated with aldehydes and KOtBu, undergo a simultaneous Wittig olefination cum Dieckmann cyclisation to yield the respective 3-enoyltetramic acids.     

Reaction of lithium diphenylphosphonium di(methylide) with carbonic acid derivatives. A novel access to polyfunctional unsaturated esters and amides

The lithium diphenylphosphonium di(methylide) Ph₂ P(CH₂)₂ Li 1 readily attacks cyclic carbonates, carbamates, and thiocarbamates, resulting in “pseudo-acylation” products, after a ring-opening step. Thus, new stabilized ylides are prepared, which can be used in situ as carbonyl olefination reagents towards aldehydes. This procedure is a new one-pot method for the synthesis of (E)-vinylic esters and amides, bearing a free ω-hydroxyl group. When a thiocarbamate is the initial substrate for 1 , a Michael-type cyclization occurs, following the Wittig olefination, resulting in the one-pot preparation of 7-membered heterocycles.     

P−P Condensation and P−N/P−P Bond Metathesis: Facile Synthesis of Cationic Tri‐ and Tetraphosphanes

[L_C^RP((PhP)₂C₂H₄)][OTf] ( 4 a,b [OTf]) and [L_C^iPrP(PPh₂)₂][OTf] ( 5 b [OTf]) were prepared from the reaction of imidazoliumyl‐substituted dipyrazolylphosphane triflate salts [L_C^RP(pyr)₂][OTf] ( 3 a,b [OTf]; a : R=Me, b =iPr; L_C^R=1,3‐dialkyl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazol‐2‐yl; pyr=3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl) with the secondary phosphanes PhP(H)C₂H₄P(H)Ph) and Ph₂PH. A stepwise double P?N/P?P bond metathesis to catena‐tetraphosphane‐2,3‐diium triflate salt [(Ph₂P)₂(L_C^MeP)₂][OTf]₂ ( 7 a [OTf]₂) is observed when reacting 3 a [OTf] with diphosphane P₂Ph₄. The coordination ability of 5 b [OTf] was probed with selected coinage metal salts [Cu(CH₃CN)₄]OTf, AgOTf and AuCl(tht) (tht=tetrahydrothiophene). For AuCl(tht), the helical complex [{(Ph₂PPL_C^iPr)Au}₄][OTf]₄ ( 9 [OTf]₄) was unexpectedly formed as a result of a chloride‐induced P?P bond cleavage. The weakly coordinating triflate anion enables the formation of the expected copper(I) and silver(I) complexes [( 5 b )M(CH₃CN)₃][OTf]₂ (M=Cu, Ag) ( 10 [OTf]₂, 11 [OTf]₂).     

Mass spectrometric characterization of metal triflates and triflimides (Lewis superacid catalysts) by electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry

Trifluoromethylsulfonate (triflate) and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (triflimide) salts, well‐known Lewis acid catalysts, present some difficulty in their characterization. By using nitromethane as the solvent, useful electrospray mass spectra in positive and negative ion mode were obtained for salts of metals in oxidation states +2 and +3. In positive mode, addition of a strong Lewis base (triphenylphosphine oxide, TPPO), capable of displacing a triflate (TfO^?) or a triflimide (Tf₂N^?) anion, is necessary for obtaining useful spectra. Under these conditions of solvent and added ligand, the most abundant ions were [M²⁺(A^?)(TPPO)₂]⁺ or [M³⁺(A^?)₂(TPPO)₂]⁺ with A^? = TfO^? or Tf₂N^?. The MS/MS spectra of these diagnostic ions provide additional analytical information. The breakdown curves, in the form of % dissociated as a function of the ion activation energy, offer a mean for investigating the bonding in these ions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Establishing the Coordination Chemistry of Antimony(V) Cations: Systematic Assessment of Ph4Sb(OTf) and Ph3Sb(OTf)2 as Lewis Acceptors

The coordination chemistry of the stiboranes Ph₄Sb(OTf) ( 1 a , OTf = OSO₂CF₃) and Ph₃Sb(OTf)₂ ( 3 ) with Lewis bases has been investigated. The significant steric encumbrance of the Sb center in 1 a precludes interaction with most ligands, but the relatively low steric demands of 4‐methylpyridine‐N‐oxide (OPyrMe) and OPMe₃ enabled the characterization of [Ph₄Sb(OPyrMe)][OTf] ( 2 a ) and [Ph₄Sb(OPMe₃)][OTf] ( 2 b ), rare examples of structurally characterized complexes of stibonium acceptors. In contrast, 3 was found to engage a variety of Lewis bases, forming stable isolable complexes of the form [Ph₃Sb(donor)₂][OTf]₂ [donor=OPMe₃ ( 6 a ), OPCy₃ ( 6 b , Cy=cyclohexyl), OPPh₃ ( 6 c ), OPyrMe ( 6 d )], [Ph₃Sb(dmap)₂(OTf)][OTf] ( 6 e , dmap=4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine) and [Ph₃Sb(donor)(OTf)][OTf] [donor=1,10‐phenanthroline ( 7 a ) or 2,2′‐bipy ( 7 b , bipy=bipyridine)]. These compounds exhibit significant structural diversity in the solid‐state, and undergo ligand exchange reactions in line with their assignment as coordination complexes. Compound 3 did not form stable complexes with phosphine donors, with reactions instead leading to redox processes yielding SbPh₃ and products of phosphine oxidation.     

An Examination of the Coordination Chemistry of L2Pt(1,2-DITHIOLENES) Using Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI–MS) has been utilized in the characterization of two series of platinum dithiolene complexes, (COD)Pt(dt) 1, (COD)–Pt(edt) 2, (COD)Pt(dmid) 3, (COD)Pt(mnt) 4, (COD)Pt(eddo) 5, (COD)Pt(dddt) 6 and (Ph₃P)₂Pt(dt) 7, (Ph₃P)₂Pt(edt) 8, (Ph₃P)₂Pt(dmid) 9, (Ph₃P)₂Pt(dmit) 10, (Ph₃P)₂Pt(mnt) 11 (where COD = 1,5–cyclooctadiene, dt = ethane–1,2–dithiolate, edt = ethylene–1,2–dithiolate, dmid = 1,3–dithiole–2–oxo–4,5–dithiolate, dmit = 1,3–dithiole–2–thione–4,5–dithiolate, mnt = maleonitrile–1,2–dithiolate, eddo = 4–(ethylene–1′,2′–dithiolate)–1,3-dithiole–2–one, and dddt = 5,6–dihydro–1,4–dithiin–2,3–dithiolate). The series that contains triphenylphosphine is labile toward the loss of HPPh₃ ⁺. In addition, an orthometallated species involving the platinum and triphenylphosphine is identified. A dimer is identified for 2, which is shown to be a product of the experiment and not present in the parent material. In addition, a 1:1 adduct with NH₄ ⁺ is identified for 4 and 11 where the NH₄ ⁺ originates from the acid hydrolysis of acetonitrile. Finally, a highly unique ion, Pt⁺, a bare platinum ion, is observed in all COD complexes indicating that a radical mechanism must accompany the decomposition of the COD complexes during the fragmentation process.     

Extension de la reaction de Wittig: Condensation “d'ylures enolates” sur les cetones aliphatiques

The enolate ylide Ph₃P⁺C^?C(Ph)O^?Li₊ obtained by the reaction of HMPT-Li with the benzoylmethylenetriphenylphosphorane Ph₃PCHCOPh reacts with aliphatic ketones, in contrast to its precursor. This condensation makes it possible to prepare β,γ-unsaturated ketones, of type RCHC(R′)CH₂COPh, instead of the α,β isomer usually obtained in a Wittig reaction.     

Novel reactions of phosphonium ylides with perhaloalkanes: First examples of halophilic attacks by phosphonium ylides and a facile route to α-haloalkylphosphonium salts

Phosphonium ylides Ph₃PCHR (R = H, CH₃, C₂H₅, n-C₃H₇, n-C₅H₁₁) react readily with perhalofluoroalkanes to afford regiospecifically α-haloalkylphosphonium salts Ph₃P⁺-CHXR Y⁻ (X = I, Br, Cl) in good yields. These reactions reveal a new type of reactivity of phosphonium ylides, i.e., the halophilic attack on CX bonds, and may be useful for the regiospecific synthesis of substituted haloolefins via Wittig reaction.     

Alkylation reactions with organometallic compounds : IV. The reaction of tris(triphenylphosphine)methylcobalt with diphenylacetylene

Tris(triphenylphosphine)methylcobalt;(Ph₃P)₃CoCH₃, reacts with diphenyl-acetylene to give α-methylstilbene as the sole addition product.(Ph₃P)₃CoCH₃ can be used as an alkylation reagent in ethers or in aromatic solvents.     

Crystal structure and triboluminescence of the [Tb(BTFA)2(NO3)(TPPO)2] complex

The crystal structure of the [Tb(BTFA)₂(NO₃)(TPPO)₂] complex (TPPO is triphenylphosphine oxide, BTFA is benzoyltrifluoracetone), which exhibits strong triboluminescence, has been established by X-ray crystallography. The crystals are triclinic: a = 11.668(3) Å, b = 11.700(3) Å, c = 12.512(3) Å, α = 65.161(4°), β = 79.120(4)°, γ = 61.860(4)°, space group P1, Z = 1. The central terbium(III) atom coordinates two oxygen atoms from two triphenylphosphine oxide molecules (Tb-O, 2.264(3) and 2.273(3) Å), two oxygen atoms from the nitrate group (Tb-O, 2.460(3) and 2.476(3) Å), and four oxygen atoms from two benzoyltrifluoroacetonate groups (Tb-O, 2.329(3), 2.399(3), 2.351(3), and 2.367(3) Å). The coordination polyhedron of the Tb(III) atom is a distorted dodecahedron. The photoluminescence and triboluminescence spectra of the [Tb(BTFA)₂(NO₃)(TPPO)₂] complex are identical and caused by the f-f luminescence of Tb³⁺.     

Thermal behavior of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) in the presence of phosphorus compounds

To clarify the interaction between poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PBAC) and phosphorus compounds such as triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO), triphenyl phosphate (TPP), and resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate) (RDP), PBAC was heated in the presence of these phosphorus compounds at 240 °C for 2 h, and the resulting polymers were analyzed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. When heated in the presence of TPPO, the PBAC sample decomposed extensively, resulting in a substantial decrease in molecular weight. On the other hand, thermal treatment in the presence of the phosphates increased the molecular weight. In both cases the molecular weight distribution became narrower. Thermal treatment of PBAC in the presence of both TPPO and TPP allowed us to control the molecular weight with a narrower distribution. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1069–1074, 2004     

Crystal and molecular structure and luminescence properties of europium trifluoroacetate complex with triphenylphosphine oxide

Using XRD method, we determined the atomic structure of crystals of the compound [Eu(TFA)₃·2TPPO (H₂O)]₂, where TFA is a trifluoroacetate anion, TPPO is a triphenylphosphine oxide. The coordination polyhedra of two independent europium atoms with coordination number CN = 8 are isotypic and consist of a antiprism of [EuO₈] composition. The geometric and electronic structural features of the compound corresponding to the characteristics of its luminescent properties are discussed.