Synthesis and Thermally and Light Driven Cleavage of an N-Heterocyclic Diphosphine with Inorganic Backbone

A diphosphine with an unsupported PP bond connecting two carbon-free "inorganic" 1,3,2,4,5-diazaphosphadisilolidine rings was prepared by reductive coupling of a P-chloro-substituted monocyclic precursor molecule. VT-EPR studies revealed that the diphosphine exists in solution, like other compounds of this kind, in dynamic equilibrium with the corresponding phosphinyl radicals. Determination of the radical concentration from the EPR spectra permitted to calculate thermochemical parameters for the homolytic PP bond fission. The results disclose that both the enthalpy and entropy of dissociation are higher than in topologically related bi(diazaphospholidines). The impact of the entropy term allows explaining that, regardless of the presence of an energetically rather stable PP bond, the onset of dissociation is observable even at ambient temperature. Irradiation experiments showed that radical formation cannot only be induced thermally, but also by photolysis.Peer reviewe

Chiral Molecular Tweezers: Synthesis and Reactivity in Asymmetric Hydrogenation

We report the synthesis and reactivity of a chiral aminoborane displaying both rapid and reversible H-2 activation. The catalyst shows exceptional reactivity in asymmetric hydrogenation of enamines and unhindered imines with stereoselectivities of up to 99% ee. DFT analysis of the reaction mechanism pointed to the importance of both repulsive steric and stabilizing intermolecular non-covalent forces in the stereodetermining hydride transfer step of the catalytic cycle

Reversible cooperative dihydrogen binding and transfer with a bis-phosphenium complex of chromium

The reversible reaction of H(2)with a bis-phosphenium complex of chromium provides a rare example of 3d transition metal/phosphenium cooperativity. Photolysis induces the activation of H(2)and yields a spectroscopically detectable phosphenium-stabilized (sigma-H-2)-complex, readily showing exchange with gaseous H(2)and D-2. Further reaction of this complex affords a phosphine-functionalized metal hydride, representing a unique example of reversible H(2)cleavage across a 3d MP bond. The same species is also accessibleviastepwise H+/H(-)transfer to the bis-phosphenium complex, and releases H(2)upon heating or irradiation. Dihydrogen transfer from the H-2-complex to styrene is exploited to demonstrate the first example of promoting hydrogenation with a phosphenium complex.Peer reviewe

Intermolecular oxidative dehydrogenative 3,3 '-coupling of benzo[b]furans and benzo[b]thiophenes promoted by DDQ/H+ : total synthesis of shandougenine B

With an excess of a strong acid, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-quinone (DDQ) is shown to promote metal-free intermolecular oxidative dehydrogenative (ODH) 3,3'-coupling of 2-aryl-benzo[b]furans and 2-aryl-benzo[b]thiophenes up to 92% yield as demonstrated with 9 substrates. Based on the analysis of oxidation potentials and molecular orbitals combined with EPR, NMR and UV-Vis observations, the studied reaction is initiated by a DDQ-substrate charge transfer complex and presumably proceeds via oxidation of the substrate into an electrophilic radical cation that further reacts with another molecule of a neutral substrate. The coupling reactivity can easily be predicted from the oxidation potential of the substrate and the morphology of its frontier molecular orbitals. The intermolecular ODH coupling reaction allowed a concise total synthesis of the natural product shandougenine B.Peer reviewe

Planar Chiral [2.2]Paracyclophane-Based Bisoxazoline Ligands and Their Applications in Cu-Mediated N–H Insertion Reaction

New catalysts for important C–N bond formation are highly sought after. In this work, we demonstrate the synthesis and viability of a new class of planar chiral [2.2]paracyclophane-based bisoxazoline (BOX) ligands for the copper-catalyzed N–H insertion of α-diazocarbonyls into anilines. The reaction features a wide substrate scope and moderate to excellent yields, and delivers the valuable products at ambient conditions

Reactions of Imidazolio-Phosphides with Organotin Chlorides : Surprisingly Diverse

Reactions of primary imidazolio-phosphides ("imidazolylidene-phosphinidenes") with R2SnCl2 yield as main products spectroscopically detectable Lewis pairs which undergo base-induced dehydrochlorination in the presence of excess dichlorostannane to afford zwitterionic chloride adducts of distannylated imidazolio-phosphines. In contrast, reactions with R3SnCl proceed under dismutation to furnish mixtures containing imidazolium salts and stannylated (oligo)phosphines P(SnR3)(3) and P-7(SnR3)(3), respectively. DFT studies were used to rationalize the divergent behavior based on the presumption that the reactions proceed under thermodynamic control and the products observed represent the most stable species under the specific reaction conditions. Computational simulation of selected reaction steps provides a model mechanism for Lewis-acid promoted creation of PP-bonds, which is a prerequisite for oligophosphine formation. The computational studies further highlight parallels between reactions of imidazolio-phosphides with Lewis and Bronsted acids, and allow also to extrapolate the behavior of the P-nucleophiles towards other electrophiles than organotin chlorides.Peer reviewe

Annellated 1,3,4,2-Triazaphospholenes-Simple Modular Synthesis and a First Exploration of Ligand Properties

The successful use of 1,3,4,2-triazaphospholenes (TAPs) as organo-catalysts stresses the need for efficient synthetic routes to these molecules. In this study, we establish the [1 + 4]-cycloaddition of PBr3 to azo-pyridines as a new approach to preparing pyrido-annellated TAPs in a single step from easily available precursors. The modular assembly of the azo-component via condensation of primary amines and nitroso compounds along with the feasibility of post-functionalization at the P–Br bond under conservation of the heterocyclic structure allows, in principle, to address a wide range of target molecules, which is illustrated by prototypical examples. The successful synthesis of a transition metal complex confirms for the first time the ability of a TAP to act as a P-donor ligand. Crystallographic studies suggest that hyperconjugation effects and intermolecular interactions induce a qualitatively similar ionic polarization of the P–Br bonds in TAPs as in better known isoelectronic diazaphospholenes