Saurabh S. Chitnis

Prototypical Phosphine Complexes of Antimony(III)

Complexes of the generic formula [Cln(PR3)mSb]((3-n)+) (n = 1, 2, 3, or 4 and m = 1 or 2) have been prepared featuring [ClSb](2+), [Cl2Sb](1+), Cl3Sb, or [Cl4Sb](1-) as acceptors with one or two phosphine ligands {PMe3, PPh3, PCy3 (Cy = C6H11)}. The solid-state structures of the complexes reveal foundational features that define the coordination chemistry of a lone pair bearing stibine acceptor site. The experimental observations are interpreted with dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations to develop an understanding of the bonding and structural diversity.

Reductive Catenation of Phosphine Antimony Complexes

Reactions of triarylphosphines with fluoroantimony(III) triflates give phosphine antimony(III) complexes, which undergo spontaneous reductive elimination of fluorophosphonium cations. The resulting phosphine antimony(I) complexes catenate to give the first examples of cationic antimony bicyclic compounds, [(R3P)4Sb6](4+), featuring a bicyclo[3.1.0]hexastibine framework stabilized by four phosphine ligands. The unprecedented 14-electron redox process illustrates the generality of the reductive catenation method.

Influence of Charge and Coordination Number on Bond Dissociation Energies, Distances, and Vibrational Frequencies for the Phosphorus–Phosphorus Bond

We report a comprehensive and systematic experimental and computational assessment of the P-P bond in prototypical molecules that represent a rare series of known compounds. The data presented complement the existing solid-state structural data and previous computational studies to provide a thorough thermodynamic and electronic understanding of the P-P bond. Comparison of homolytic and heterolytic bond dissociation for tricoordinate-tricoordinate, tricoordinate-tetracoordinate, and tetracoordinate-tetracoordinate P-P bonds in frameworks 1-6 provides fundamental insights into covalent bonding. For all types of P-P bond discussed, homolytic dissociation is favored over heterolytic dissociation, although the distinction is small for 2(1+) and 6(1+). The presence of a single cationic charge in a molecule substantially strengthens the P-P bond (relative to analogous neutral frameworks) such that it is comparable with the C-C bond in alkanes. Nevertheless, P-P distances are remarkably independent of molecular charge or coordination number, and trends in values of d(PC) and νsymm(PC) imply that a molecular cationic charge is distributed over the alkyl substituents. In the gas phase, the diphosphonium dication 3(2+) has similar energy to two [PMe3](+) radical cations, so that it is the lattice enthalpy of 3[OTf]2 in the solid-state that enables isolation, highlighting that values from gas-phase calculations are poor guides for synthetic planning for ionic compounds. There are no relationships or correlations between bond lengths, strengths, and vibrational frequencies.

Coordination complexes of bismuth triflates with tetrahydrofuran and diphosphine ligands.

The reaction of CH3OSO2CF3 (MeOTf) with BiBr3 in tetrahydrofuran (THF) yields (THF)2BiBr2(OTf) (1), which is converted to (dmpe)BiBr2(OTf) (2Br) upon displacement of the THF ligands with bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane (dmpe). The chloride derivatives (dmpe)BiCl2(OTf) (2Cl) and (dmpe)BiCl(OTf)2 (3) are obtained from the reaction of BiCl3 and dmpe with 1 and 2 equiv of Me3SiOSO2CF3 (TMSOTf), respectively. The complexes readily decompose in solution to give elemental bismuth and a mixture of products. The solid-state structures reveal dimeric units bridged by both triflate O-S-O interactions and weak Bi-X-Bi interactions (X = Cl, Br). Comparison of the solid-state structures illustrates that both cis and trans configurations of halides are possible in complexes of the form L2BiX2(OTf), depending upon the denticity of the ligand. The experimentally observed configurations are consistent with minima calculated at the MP2 level for the triflate-free cations in the gas phase. Examination of the MP2-calculated electronic structure of 3 reveals the presence of low-lying π-type orbitals that may result in Z-type ligand activity. However, the attempted coordination of 3 with the electron-rich metal center in K2PdCl4, via metal-to-ligand back-donation, leads instead to halide abstraction, giving [(dmpe)2Pd][(CH3CN)2Bi2Cl6(OTf)2] (8). The anion in 8 consists of two octahedral bismuth environments bridged along one edge by two triflate anions. The results illustrate new coordination chemistry for bismuth.

Addition of a Cyclophosphine to Nitriles: An Inorganic Click Reaction Featuring Protio, Organo, and Main‐Group Catalysis

The addition of a cyclotriphosphine to a broad range of nitriles gives access to the first examples of free 1-aza-2,3,4-triphospholenes in a rapid, ambient temperature, one-pot, high-yield protocol. The reaction produces electron-rich heterocycles (four lone pairs) and features homoatomic σ-bond heterolysis, thereby combining the key features of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition chemistry of azides and cyclopropanes. Also reported is the first catalytic addition of P-P bonds to the C≡N bond. The coordination chemistry of the new heterocycles is explored.

Influence of Ring Strain and Bond Polarization on the Ring Expansion of Phosphorus Homocycles

Heterolytic cleavage of homoatomic bonds is a challenge, as it requires separation of opposite charges. Even highly strained homoatomic rings (e.g., cyclopropane and cyclobutane) are kinetically stable and do not react with nucleophiles or electrophiles. In contrast, cycloalkanes bearing electron-donating/withdrawing substituents on adjacent carbons have polarized C-C bonds and undergo numerous heterolytic ring-opening and expansion reactions. Here we show that upon electrophile activation phosphorus homocycles exhibit analogous reactivity, which is modulated by the amount of ring strain and extent of bond polarization. Neutral rings (tBuP)3, 1, or (tBuP)4, 2, show no reactivity toward nitriles, but the cyclo-phosphinophosphonium derivative [(tBuP)3Me]+, [3Me]+, undergoes addition to nitriles giving five-membered P3CN heterocycles. Because of its lower ring strain, the analogous four-membered ring, [(tBuP)4Me]+, [4Me]+, is thermodynamically stable with respect to cycloaddition with nitriles, despite similar P-P bond polarization. We also report the first example of isonitrile insertion into cyclophosphines, which is facile for polarized derivatives [3Me]+ and [4Me]+, but does not proceed for neutral 1 or 2, despite the calculated exothermicity of the process. Finally, we assessed the reactions of [4R]+ R = H, Cl, F toward 4-dimethylaminopyridine (dmap), which suggest that the site of nucleophilic attack varies with the extent of P-P bond polarization. These results deconvolute the influence of ring strain and bond polarization on the chemistry of inorganic homocycles and unlock new synthetic possibilities.

Condensation Reactions of Chlorophosphanes with Chalcogenides

A high-yielding and facile synthesis for diphosphane monochalcogenides (1(Ch)((R))) and their constitutional isomers, diphosphanylchalcoganes (2(Ch)((R))), was developed, featuring a condensation reaction between chlorophosphanes (R2PCl) and sodium chalcogenides (Na2Ch, Ch = S, Se, (Te)). The optimized protocol selectively yields either 1(Ch)((R)) (R2(Ch)PPR2) or 2(Ch)((R)) (Ch(PR2)2) depending upon the steric demand of the substituents R. Reaction pathways consistent with the distinct reaction outcomes are proposed. The application of 1(Ch)((R)) and 2(Ch)((R)) as an interesting class of ligands is exemplarily demonstrated by the preparation of selected transition metal complexes.