Andrew R. Jupp

The 2‐Phosphaethynolate Anion: A Convenient Synthesis and [2+2] Cycloaddition Chemistry

Hip to be square: Direct carbonylation of solutions of the heptaphosphide trianion (P7(3-)) afforded the phosphaethynolate anion in moderate yields. This species undergoes [2+2] cycloaddition reactions with diphenylketene and bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)carbodiimide to yield the anionic four-membered heterocycles P[C(O)]2C(C6H5)2(-) and PC(O)(CNDipp)NDipp(-) .

Phosphinecarboxamide: A Phosphorus-Containing Analogue of Urea and Stable Primary Phosphine

Reactions of the 2-phosphaethynolate anion (PCO(-), 1) with ammonium salts quantitatively yielded phosphinecarboxamide (PH2C(O)NH2, 2). The molecular structure and chemical properties of 2 were studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and multielement NMR spectroscopy. This phosphorus-containing analogue of urea is a rare example of an air-stable primary phosphine.

Exploiting the Brønsted acidity of phosphinecarboxamides for the synthesis of new phosphides and phosphines.

We demonstrate that the synthesis of new N-functionalized phosphinecarboxamides is possible by reaction of primary and secondary amines with PCO− in the presence of a proton source. These reactions proceed with varying degrees of success, and although primary amines generally afford the corresponding phosphinecarboxamides in good yields, secondary amines react more sluggishly and often give rise to significant decomposition of the 2-phosphaethynolate precursor. Of the new N-derivatized phosphinecarboxamides available, PH2C(O)NHCy (Cy=cyclohexyl) can be obtained in sufficiently high yields to allow for the exploration of its Brønsted acidity. Thus, deprotonating PH2C(O)NHCy with one equivalent of potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (KHMDS) gave the new phosphide [PHC(O)NHCy]−. In contrast, deprotonation with half of an equivalent gives rise to [P{C(O)NHCy}2]− and PH3. These phosphides can be employed to give new phosphines by reactions with electrophiles, thus demonstrating their enormous potential as chemical building blocks.

Ambient‐Temperature Synthesis of 2‐Phosphathioethynolate, PCS–, and the Ligand Properties of ECX– (E = N, P; X = O, S)

Abstract A synthesis of the 2‐phosphathioethynolate anion, PCS–, under ambient conditions is reported. The coordination chemistry of PCO–, PCS– and their nitrogen‐containing congeners is also explored. Photolysis of a solution of W(CO)6 in the presence of PCO– [or a simple ligand displacement reaction using W(CO)5(MeCN)] affords [W(CO)5(PCO)]– (1). The cyanate and thiocyanate analogues, [W(CO)5(NCO)]– (2) and [W(CO)5(NCS)]– (3), are also synthesised using a similar methodology, allowing for an in‐depth study of the bonding properties of this family of related ligands. Our studies reveal that, in the coordination sphere of tungsten(0), the PCO– anion preferentially binds through the phosphorus atom in a strongly bent fashion, while NCO– and NCS– coordinate linearly through the nitrogen atom. Reactions between PCS– and W(CO)5(MeCN) similarly afford [W(CO)5(PCS)]–; however, due to the ambidentate nature of the anion, a mixture of both the phosphorus‐ and sulfur‐bonded complexes (4a and 4b, respectively) is obtained. It was possible to establish that, as with PCO–, the PCS– ion also coordinates to the metal centre in a bent fashion.

Fluoride Binding and Crystal-Field Analysis of Lanthanide Complexes of Tetrapicolyl-Appended Cyclen.

Lanthanide complexes of tetrapicolyl cyclen displayed remarkably high affinities for fluoride (log K≈5) in water, and were shown to form 1:1 complexes. The behaviour of these systems can be rationalised by changes to the magnitude of the crystal-field parameter, B20 . However, such changes are not invariably accompanied by a change in sign of this parameter: for early lanthanides, the N8 donor set with a coordinated axial water molecule ensures that the magnetic anisotropy has the opposite sense to that observed in the analogous dehydrated lanthanide complexes.