The Molecular Structure and NMR Properties of P-Phosphinoylmethyl Aminophosphonium Salts

The molecular structures of two aminophosphonium salts (bromide and tetrafluoroborate) have been determined by X-ray analysis. They have similar conformations and hydrogen bond (HB) networks: the N–H acid proton is bonded to the anion and, in the case of the fluoroborate, to the oxygen atom of the phosphine oxide, forming a pseudo six-membered ring closed by a weak N–HO intramolecular hydrogen bond (IMHB). These compounds have been studied by multinuclear NMR in solution, including the ¹⁵N-labeled derivatives, to determine a complete set of coupling constants. A coupling of 1.5 Hz between the ¹⁵N and the ³¹P nuclei, separated by three bonds, was observed experimentally for the bromide in CDCl₃ solution, which appears to be a classical ³J_N-P across the covalent bonds and not a ^3hJ_N-P across the IMHB.