Investigations of Phosphenium Insertion into Phosphorus-Phosphorus Bonds

Abstract

Despite many drawn parallels between carbon and phosphorus, the development of catena-phosphorus chemistry is superficially explored when compared to carbon. This lack of progression is especially highlighted for cationic phosphorus frameworks, as neutral and anionic phosphorus frameworks have been studied to a much greater extent. This stresses cationic catena-phosphorus frameworks as important molecules for an improved understanding of fundamental phosphorus chemistry. Recent advancements in synthetic methods demonstrate that phosphorus frameworks of this type are viable target molecules. Furthermore, the precedence of a variety of new cationic catena-phosphorus frameworks by such methods exemplify their versatility. Here, novel 1,3-diphosphino-2-phosphonium [R2P-PR2-PR2]+, 2-phosphino-1,3-diphosphonium [R3P-PR-PR3]+ and cyclo-triphosphinophosphonium [R2P(RP)3]+ cations have been isolated and characterized in order to study the insertion of phosphenium cations into the phosphorus-phosphorus bonds of catena-phosphines.