A series of structurally differentiated α-cationic phospholes containing cyclopropenium, imidazolium, and iminium substituents has been synthesized by reaction of chlorophosphole 1 with the corresponding stable carbenes. Evaluation of the donor properties of these compounds reveals that their strong π-acceptor character is heavily influenced by the nature of the cationic group. The coordination chemistry of these newly prepared ligands towards AuI centers is also described and their unique electronic properties exploited in catalysis. Interestingly, α-cationic phosphole containing catalysts were not only able to accelerate model cycloisomerization reactions, but also to efficiently discriminate between concurrent reaction pathways, avoiding the formation of undesired product mixtures.
A series of structurally class="Disease">differeclass="Chemical">ntiated α-catioclass="Chemical">nic class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">phospholes containing cyclopropenium, imidazolium, and iminium substituents has been synthesized by reaction of chlorophosphole 1 with the corresponding stable carbenes. Evaluation of the donor properties of these compounds reveals that their strong π-acceptor character is heavily influenced by the nature of the cationic group. The coordination chemistry of these newly prepared ligands towards AuI centers is also described and their unique electronic properties exploited in catalysis. Interestingly, α-cationic phosphole containing catalysts were not only able to accelerate model cycloisomerization reactions, but also to efficiently discriminate between concurrent reaction pathways, avoiding the formation of undesired product mixtures.
In sharp contrast to class="Chemical">pyrrole, which is a placlass="Chemical">nar aclass="Chemical">nd stroclass="Chemical">ngly aromatic heterocycle, its immeclass="Chemical">n class="Disease">diately heavier analogue, phosphole, is characterized by a highly pyramidalised arrangement of the substituents around the phosphorus and, as consequence, a severely diminished degree of aromaticity.
This geometry is adopted due to the high energetic cost required to planarize the phosphorus atom, which is not compensated by the aromatic stabilization won in a hypothetically planar conformation, even though theoretical calculations predict that in such planar environment phosphole would be more aromatic than pyrrole.
Hence, in phospholes the P‐lone pair is bent away from the heterocycle and its overlap with the butadienyl fragment is drastically reduced.
This fact primarily defines the different reactivities of phospholes and pyrroles; in particular, the possibility of the former to form P‐oxides, quaternary salts, or metal complexes by reaction at phosphorus.
With regard to the use of class="Chemical">phospholes as aclass="Chemical">ncillary ligaclass="Chemical">nds, both experimeclass="Chemical">ntal aclass="Chemical">nd theoretical aclass="Chemical">nalyses iclass="Chemical">nclass="Chemical">n class="Disease">dicate that while they depict very similar σ‐electron‐releasing properties to these characteristic of classical phosphines of analogue structure; their low lying LUMO, which largely corresponds to the mixture of the exocyclic σ*(P‐R) with a π*‐orbital, confers them stronger π‐acceptor character.
This results in enhanced back‐donation from orbitals of the metal and, subsequently, in lower net electronic transfer to the metal centres they coordinate (Figure 1).
Figure 1
Frontier orbitals in phospholes and impact of the cationic rest on the LUMO energy.
Frontier orbitals innclass="Chemical">phospholes aclass="Chemical">nd impact of the catioclass="Chemical">nic rest oclass="Chemical">n the LUMO eclass="Chemical">nergy.
During the last few years, our group has established a research program focused on the design and synthesis of strong acceptor ancillary ligands. These have been utilized to promote transformations in which the energetic span (δE) of the complete catalyticcycle is minimized by the enhancement of the electrophilicity of the class="Chemical">metal.
Specifically, we have prepared a complete series of α‐catioclass="Chemical">nic ligaclass="Chemical">nds by formal exchaclass="Chemical">nge of at least oclass="Chemical">ne ‐R substitueclass="Chemical">nt oclass="Chemical">n typical class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">phosphines by positively charged groups, such as cyclopropenium, imidazolium or pyridinium rests. Using this design, a series of AuI, PtII and RhI catalysts depicting unmatched reactivity in hydroarylation
and cycloisomerization reactions
have been developed, together with enantioselective versions of the already mentioned processes.
Given the intrinsic π‐acceptor character that the class="Chemical">phosphole architecture imposes to ligaclass="Chemical">nds derived from that heterocycle, we eclass="Chemical">nvisaged that such platform might be aclass="Chemical">n ideal starticlass="Chemical">ng poiclass="Chemical">nt to develop eveclass="Chemical">n stroclass="Chemical">nger π‐acceptor ligaclass="Chemical">nds by iclass="Chemical">ncorporatioclass="Chemical">n of positively charged substitueclass="Chemical">nts as exocyclic rests. Iclass="Chemical">n the resulticlass="Chemical">ng α‐catioclass="Chemical">nic class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">phospholes the electron withdrawing effect of the cationic group should lead to a larger localization at phosphorus of the σ*(P‐R) orbital, favouring the σ*(P‐R)‐π*(ring) mixture and, as consequence, lowering the energy of the LUMO (Figure 1). Modulation of this interaction by employing cationic groups of different nature should additionally allow the fine tuning of the π‐accepting properties of the final α‐cationic phosphole.
Herein, the synthesis of such cationicclass="Chemical">phospholes is reported for the first time, their structure elucidated by meaclass="Chemical">ns of class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography, and their donor properties evaluated. Finally, their coordination chemistry towards AuI centres is studied, and the first practical applications in homogeneous catalysis of the obtained complexes are described.
Results and Discussion
Synthesis and Structure of α‐Cationic Phospholes
The preparation of a prototype class="Chemical">imidazolium‐substituted class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">phosphole was initially envisaged by reaction of 4,5‐di(Me)IMes with tetraethyl‐substituted chlorophosphole 1, which was synthesized using the available routes.
After anion exchange with NaSbF6 and washing of the crude reaction mixture with n‐pentane, 2 a was isolated as a white solid in 76 % yield. In an analogue manner adducts 2 b, 2 c and 2 d where obtained by reaction of 1 with 1,2‐(diisopropylamino) cyclopropenyl‐1‐ylidene
or cAACs of different steric demand,
respectively (Scheme 1). The 31P {1H}NMR of these adducts display characteristic resonance signals at δ=−38.3 (2 a), −41.0 (2 b), −16.0 (2 c) and 0.8 ppm (2 d). Compared with that of 1‐phenyl‐2,3,4,5‐(tetraethyl)phosphole (δ=3.0 ppm), the significant up field shift of 2 a, 2 b and 2 c can be attributed to the effect of the positively charged groups (Scheme 1).[7b⋅c] The shift of the 31P signal in 2 d cannot be compared due to the tremendous steric hindrance of the Ad(cAAC) fragment, which significantly alters the geometry of the ligand.
Scheme 1
Synthesis of α‐cationic phospholes. Reagents and conditions: a) 1,3‐dimesityl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazol‐1‐ylidene (1.0 equiv), Et2O, −78 °C, 2 h, and then NaSbF6, −78 °C→r.t., 76 %; b) 2,3‐diisopropylaminocyclopropenyl‐1‐ylidene (1.0 equiv), otherwise as a), 76 %; c) Di(Me)cAAC (1.0 equiv), otherwise as a), 60 %; d) AdcAAC (1.0 equiv), otherwise as a), 46 %.
Synthesis of α‐cationicclass="Chemical">phospholes. Reageclass="Chemical">nts aclass="Chemical">nd coclass="Chemical">nclass="Chemical">n class="Disease">ditions: a) 1,3‐dimesityl‐4,5‐dimethylimidazol‐1‐ylidene (1.0 equiv), Et2O, −78 °C, 2 h, and then NaSbF6, −78 °C→r.t., 76 %; b) 2,3‐diisopropylaminocyclopropenyl‐1‐ylidene (1.0 equiv), otherwise as a), 76 %; c) Di(Me)cAAC (1.0 equiv), otherwise as a), 60 %; d) AdcAAC (1.0 equiv), otherwise as a), 46 %.
The connectivity of salts 2 a–d was subsequently confirmed by X‐ray crystal analysis (See Figure 2 for the ORTEP plots, and the Supporting Information). In these structures the C1‐P1 class="Disease">distaclass="Chemical">nces do class="Chemical">not sigclass="Chemical">nificaclass="Chemical">ntly class="Chemical">n class="Disease">differentiate along the series (1.80–1.86 Å), which are in the range of typical values for P−C(sp2) bonds.
In addition, the sum of angles around P1: 302.64(12)°, 2 a; 304.47(18)°, 2 b; 295.00(52)°, 2c; and 311.11(18)° for 2 d, indicate that the central P atom adopts a pyramidal environment; albeit the pyramidalization slightly diminishes when bulkier cationic substituents need to be accommodated. Finally, in the solid state the P‐atoms of 2 a–d, are displaced out of the plane defined by the butadiene moiety (0.46 Å in 2 a; 0.39 Å in 2 b; 0.47 Å in 2 c; and 0.78 Å in 2 d). These parameters, together with the alternation of the C−C bond distances in the butadiene moieties corroborate the lack of aromatic character in the phosphole ring, something already known for the non‐charged members of the family as well (see the Supporting Information).
Figure 2
X‐ray structures of 2 a–d. Hydrogen atoms, SbF6 counterions and solvent molecules are removed for clarity; ellipsoids are set at 50 % probability.
.
X‐ray structures of 2 a–d. class="Chemical">Hydrogen atoms, class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">SbF6 counterions and solvent molecules are removed for clarity; ellipsoids are set at 50 % probability.
.
Stereoelectronic Properties of α‐Cationic Phospholes
IR stretching frequencies in trans‐[RhCl(CO)L2] complexes are generally used to evaluate the donor endowment of new ligands and establish their Tolman electronic parameter (TEP). Hence, we initially prepared complex 3 b by reaction of [RhCl(CO)2]2 with 2 b. Comparison of the IR spectrum of 3 b (υCO=1984 cm−1) with that of 4 (υCO=1971 cm−1), which contains a class="Chemical">phosphine beariclass="Chemical">ng a class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">cyclopropenium substituent as well but no phosphole unit reveals, within experimental error, that 2 b is a weaker net donor ligand.
This is attributed to the stronger acceptor properties imparted by the phosphole architecture (Scheme 2). Probably due to their excessive steric demand, ligands 2 a and 2 c,d do not form trans‐[RhCl(CO)L2] complexes by reaction with [RhCl(CO)2]2 making this method inappropriate to compare their donor properties.
The X‐ray structure of 3 b has been resolved and is shown in the Supplementary Information.
Scheme 2
Synthesis of 3 b and comparison of its υ
CO with that of 4.
Synthesis of 3 b and comparison of its υ
CO with that of 4.Hence, the oxidation potential E
p(ox) was chosen as an alternative parameter to rank the electronic properties of the new ligands. Cyclic voltammetry measurements afford the following values for the oxidation of ligands (E
p(ox)=1.32 V, 2 a; 1.18 V, 2 b and 1.46 V, 2 c, calibrated versus Fc+/Fc), which suggest that 2 a and 2 b are, respectively, slightly better and worse donors than (MeO)3P (1.287 V). Ligand 2 c, due to the acceptor properties of the class="Chemical">cAAC moiety, staclass="Chemical">nds as the less basic member of the series. Its E
p(ox) is very similar to the oclass="Chemical">nes measured for α‐class="Chemical">n class="Disease">dicationic phosphines.
These values however, should be considered with caution because of the irreversible nature of the oxidations monitored. The percent buried volume (%VBur) and the topographic steric maps of 2 a–d are shown in Figure 3. Given the quite rigid nature of the core architecture of these ligands (in particular 2 a, 2 c,d), which strongly limits the impact of conformational changes in solution; it can be concluded that upon coordination 2 a and 2 c,d impose a geometry around the metal center very similar to that created by Buchwald biaryl phosphines, while this privileged environment cannot be provided by the more flexible 2 b.
Figure 3
Topographic steric maps for 2 a–d.
Topographic steric maps for 2 a–d.
Synthesis of α‐Radical Phospholes
class="Chemical">Notably, duriclass="Chemical">ng the electrochemical aclass="Chemical">nalyses, reversible reductioclass="Chemical">n peaks were observed at −1.512 V aclass="Chemical">nd −1.306 (vs. Fc/Fc+) for 2 c, aclass="Chemical">nd 2 d, respectively, which provided evideclass="Chemical">nce of the stability of the correspoclass="Chemical">nclass="Chemical">n class="Disease">ding neutral α‐radical phospholes. Encouraged by this result, we embarked on the isolation of these species. By treatment of the cationic precursor 2 c with one equivalent of potassium in graphite (KC8) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at −78 °C, a deep‐green solution was obtained, from which radical 5 c was isolated as black solid in moderate but reproducible yield (Figure 4 a). Crystals suitable for X‐ray analyses of this compound were grown by cooling their respective saturated pentane solutions to −20 °C. The C1‐P1 distance in 5 c (1.7976(9) Å) is notably shorter than that in their cationic precursor 2 c (1.867(6) Å), while the elongation of the C1−N1 bond in radical 5 c (1.309(8) Å in 2 c and 1.3960(11) Å in 5 c) is consistent with a lesser degree of π‐bonding between these two atoms as expected from a of the partial population of the C‐N π*‐orbital (Figures 4 b and 5).
Figure 4
a) Synthesis of 5 c. Reaction conditions: KC8, THF, −78 °C, 30 %; b) X‐ray structure of 5 c, hydrogen atoms were removed for clarity and ellipsoids are set at 50 % probability.
c) Experimental (black) and simulated (red) X‐band EPR spectra of 5 c (g=2.0028, a
P=5.36 G, a
N=5.62 G) in toluene solution at r.t. (G=gauss); d) Cyclic Voltamogram of 5 c in CH2Cl2 calibrated versus Cp*2Fe/Cp*2Fe+, Bu4NPF6 (0.1 M).
Figure 5
a) Calculated spin densities of 5 c (left) and b) SOMO plot (right) at the UB3LYP‐D3/def2‐TZVP level. Total spin density drawn at an isosurface value of 0.0005 and SOMO drawn at 0.025.
a) Synthesis of 5 c. Reaction conclass="Disease">ditioclass="Chemical">ns: class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">KC8, THF, −78 °C, 30 %; b) X‐ray structure of 5 c, hydrogen atoms were removed for clarity and ellipsoids are set at 50 % probability.
c) Experimental (black) and simulated (red) X‐band EPR spectra of 5 c (g=2.0028, a
P=5.36 G, a
N=5.62 G) in toluene solution at r.t. (G=gauss); d) Cyclic Voltamogram of 5 c in CH2Cl2 calibrated versus Cp*2Fe/Cp*2Fe+, Bu4NPF6 (0.1 M).
a) Calculated spin densities of 5 c (left) and b) SOMO plot (right) at the UB3LYP‐D3/def2‐TZVP level. Total spin density drawn at an isosurface value of 0.0005 and SOMO drawn at 0.025.A deeper insight into the electronic structure of 5 c was gained by X‐band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements from samples class="Disease">dissolved iclass="Chemical">n dry class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">toluene. The isotropic spectrum (Figure 4 c) shows a g factor of 2.0028, which is consistent with an essentially C‐based radical. Additionally, the resolved hyperfine splitting of the spectra reveals delocalization of spin density onto the adjacent N1 and P1 atoms; the quartet spectrum observed for 5 c is the result of hyperfine coupling constants that are apparently identical (aP=5.36 G; aN=5.62 G).
DFT calculations were performed at the UB3LYP‐D3/def2‐TZVP//UTPSS/def2‐TZVP level
(see the Supporting Information for computational details). These calculations accurately reproduce the geometries observed experimentally in the solid state for 5 c and provide a quantitative picture of the spin class="Disease">distributioclass="Chemical">n (Figure 5). As caclass="Chemical">n be seeclass="Chemical">n from the plots of the localized Mullikeclass="Chemical">n spiclass="Chemical">n declass="Chemical">nsities aclass="Chemical">nd that of the siclass="Chemical">ngly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO), the uclass="Chemical">npaired electroclass="Chemical">n declass="Chemical">nsity is maiclass="Chemical">nly located at the origiclass="Chemical">nal class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">carbene carbon atom derived from the cAAC fragment (ca. 68 %). Moreover, there is considerable spin density on the N atom (ca. 21 %), and only some residual one at the P center (less than 1 %).
Synthesis of AuI Complexes
Encouraged by this analysis and willing to exploit the stereoelectronic properties of the newly prepared α‐cationicclass="Chemical">phospholes iclass="Chemical">n catalysis, the correspoclass="Chemical">nclass="Chemical">n class="Disease">ding AuI derivatives 6 a–d were prepared by reaction of (Me2S)AuCl with phospholes 2 a–d, respectively (Scheme 3). Very indicative of the formation of the desired AuI‐complexes is the downfield displacement of the 31P {1H}NMR chemical shifts upon coordination; δ=−2.1 (6 a); −2.2 (6 b); 15.4 (6 c); and 26.3 ppm (6 d). The decision to employ Au‐catalysis for the initial screening of α‐cationic phospholes as ancillary ligands comes from our experience in Au‐catalyzed processes, which often benefit from strong acceptor ligands, and other literature precedents.
Scheme 3
Synthesis of AuI complexes 6 a–d. Reagents and conditions: a) (Me2S)AuCl (1.0 equiv), CH2Cl2, rt, 3 h, 6 a (95 %); 6 b (78 %); 6 c (82 %); 6 d (78 %).
Synthesis of class="Chemical">AuI complexes 6 a–d. Reageclass="Chemical">nts aclass="Chemical">nd coclass="Chemical">nclass="Chemical">n class="Disease">ditions: a) (Me2S)AuCl (1.0 equiv), CH2Cl2, rt, 3 h, 6 a (95 %); 6 b (78 %); 6 c (82 %); 6 d (78 %).
The solid‐state structures of complexes 6 a–d were determined by X‐ray class="Disease">diffractioclass="Chemical">n aclass="Chemical">nalysis. The ORTEP class="Chemical">n class="Disease">diagrams of 6 b and 6 c are shown in Figure 6, and those of 6 a and 6 d can be found in the Supporting Information. The measured Au1‐P1 bond lengths for these complexes, 2.2238(9) Å, 6 a; 2.233(3) Å, 6 b; 2.2151(6) Å, 6 c and 2.2283(9) Å, 6 d; are identical to the ones measured for neutral phosphole‐AuI complexes (P1‐Au1, 2.20–2.24 Å).[
,
] Moreover, in structures 6 a, 6 c,d, a short contact between the Au atom and the Cipso from the flanking aryl ring (3.0949(35) Å, 6 a; 3.1691(22) Å, 6 c; 2.9757(32) Å, 6 d) can be observed.
In all cases the geometry of the P‐Au‐Cl fragment is slightly distorted from the expected linearity (P1‐Au1‐Cl1 angles: 176.5° in 6 a; 175.1° in 6 b; 173.2° in 6 c and 174.4° in 6 d).
Figure 6
X‐ray structures 6 b and 6 c. Hydrogen atoms and counteranions were removed for clarity; ellipsoids are set at 50 % probability.
X‐ray structures 6 b and 6 c. nclass="Chemical">Hydrogen atoms aclass="Chemical">nd couclass="Chemical">nteraclass="Chemical">nioclass="Chemical">ns were removed for clarity; ellipsoids are set at 50 % probability.
Catalysis
As a preliminary comparison of the relative reactivity of complexes 6 a–c with that of those derived from neutral or other cationicclass="Chemical">phosphines, we iclass="Chemical">nitially evaluated their performaclass="Chemical">nce iclass="Chemical">n the iclass="Chemical">ntramolecular hydroarylatioclass="Chemical">n of class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">sulfide 7 into thiepine 8 following a 7‐exo‐dig cyclisation.
The conversion versus time plot for the different precatalysts under otherwise identical conditions (2 mol % [Au], 2 mol % AgSbF6, r.t., CD2Cl2) is shown in Figure 7. To put our results into perspective, neutral phosphole 9, cationic phosphine 10, and phosphite Au complexes 11, were also prepared and used as precatalyst under otherwise identical reaction conditions (See the Supporting Information).
Figure 7
Ligand effect on the Au‐catalyzed hydroarylation of diaryl sulfide 7 into thiepine 8. Conditions: 7 (0.045 M in CD2Cl2), Au precatalysts (2 mol %), AgSbF6 (2 mol %), r.t. Conversions determined by 1H‐NMR. Color code: 9 (▾); 6 a (▴); 11 (◂); 10 (▪); 6 b (•); 6 c (▪).
Ligand effect on the class="Chemical">Au‐catalyzed hydroarylatioclass="Chemical">n of class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">diaryl sulfide 7 into thiepine 8. Conditions: 7 (0.045 M in CD2Cl2), Au precatalysts (2 mol %), AgSbF6 (2 mol %), r.t. Conversions determined by 1H‐NMR. Color code: 9 (▾); 6 a (▴); 11 (◂); 10 (▪); 6 b (•); 6 c (▪).
As expected, all cationic precatalysts tested performed better than 9. In adclass="Disease">ditioclass="Chemical">n, comparisoclass="Chemical">n of the plots obtaiclass="Chemical">ned with 6 b aclass="Chemical">nd 10 allows assessiclass="Chemical">ng the effect of the class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">phosphole unit; this moiety makes 6 b slightly more reactive than 10 and, interestingly, it seems to confer longer life to the catalytic species. Phosphite complex 11 depicts intermediate performance between 6 b and 10. The most promising results in terms of conversion were provided by 6 c containing the most strongly π‐acceptor, cAAC‐derived cationic moiety. We attribute the poor performance of 6 a when compared to 6 b to the higher steric demand imposed by the IMes moiety.
Finally, the catalytic performance of the class="Chemical">Au complexes 6 a–c was adclass="Chemical">n class="Disease">ditionally evaluated in the Au‐catalysed cyclisation of N‐(3‐iodoprop‐2‐ynyl)‐N‐tosylanilines 12 a–c into the corresponding 1,2‐dihydroquinolines. This particular transformation was chosen because two regioisomeric products are known to be produced; those derived from simple cyclisation 13 a–c, and compounds 14 a–c, which additionally involve a 1,2‐iodo migration concomitant to the cycloisomerization. Moderate π‐acceptor ligands attached to Au, as the phosphite in complex 11 have been reported to favor the first pathway (Table 1, Entry 1); while strong σ‐donating NHCs preferentially induce a 1,2‐iodine shift prior to the cyclisation event (Table 1, Entry 2).
Hence, this transformation seems to be ideal to further tests the unique donor properties of ligands 2 a–c. Discrimination between competing reaction pathways and not only a kinetic effect is expected here.
Table 1
Effect of α‐cationic phosphole ligands of different π‐acceptor ability on the outcome of the Au‐catalyzed cyclisation of tosylanylines 12 a–c.
Entry
Substrate
Au cat.
Conv (%)[b]
13:14 ratio[c]
1[a]
12 a
11
(64)
58:42
2[a]
12 a
15
(85)
7:93
3
12 a
6 a
>95
75:25
4
12 a
6 b
>95
56:44
5
12 a
6 c
>95 (80)
97:3
6
12 a
10
>95
59:41
7[a]
12 b
11
(79)
31:69
8[a]
12 b
15
(80)
<1:99<
9
12 b
6 c
>95 (79)
97:3
10[a]
12 c
11
67
78:22
11
12 c
6 c
>95(95)
99:1
[a] Results from ref. [24a]. [b] Conversions determined by 1H NMR of the crude reaction mixtures; in parenthesis isolated yields; [c] Isomeric ratios determined by 1H NMR.
Effect of α‐cationicclass="Chemical">phosphole ligaclass="Chemical">nds of class="Chemical">n class="Disease">different π‐acceptor ability on the outcome of the Au‐catalyzed cyclisation of tosylanylines 12 a–c.
EntrySubstratenclass="Chemical">Au cat.
Conv (%)[b]13:14 ratio[c]1[a]12 a11(64)58:422[a]12 a15(85)7:93312 a6 a>9575:25412 a6 b>9556:44512 a6 c>95 (80)97:3612 a10>9559:417[a]12 b11(79)31:698[a]12 b15(80)<1:99<912 b6 c>95 (79)97:310[a]12 c116778:221112 c6 c>95(95)99:1[a] Results from ref. [24a]. [b] Conversions determined by class="Chemical">1Hclass="Chemical">n class="Chemical">NMR of the crude reaction mixtures; in parenthesis isolated yields; [c] Isomeric ratios determined by 1HNMR.
The product ratio obtained using precatalysts 6 b is comparable to those afforded by 10 and 11, confirming the donor ability rank previously stablished. The selectivity towards 13 a improves when precatalyst 6 a is employed, and reaches a remarkable 97:3 ratio for class="Chemical">cAAC‐derived 6 c (Table 1, Eclass="Chemical">ntries 3–5). Ideclass="Chemical">ntical teclass="Chemical">ndeclass="Chemical">ncy is observed for substituted substrates 12 b (R=Cl) aclass="Chemical">nd 12 c (R=class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">C(O)Me) (Table 1, Entries 7–11). Especially remarkable is the effect of precatalyst 6 c in the cyclisation of 12 b. In this case the phosphole ligand is even able to invert the product distribution of the reaction if compared to 11 and 15 (entries 7–9). Compound 13 b is thus by far the major product of that reaction with a 13 b:14 b ratio of 97:3.
Conclusion
An efficient method for the preparation of α‐cationicclass="Chemical">phospholesclass="Chemical">n class="Disease">differing on the nature of the cationic group is reported, together with the synthesis of their Au‐complex derivatives. Our experiments suggest exceptional electrophilicity at the Au center that can be used to accelerate otherwise difficult transformations and importantly, to discriminate between competing reaction pathways. Given the easy handling of ligands 2 a–d, we suspect that a potentially large number of Au‐catalyzed transformations might benefit from their use. Ongoing research in our group is focused in this direction. We also target the application of cationic phosphole ligands in processes catalyzed by metals other than Au.
Conflict of interest
The nclass="Chemical">authors declare class="Chemical">no coclass="Chemical">nflict of iclass="Chemical">nterest.
As a service to our class="Chemical">authors aclass="Chemical">nd readers, this jourclass="Chemical">nal provides supporticlass="Chemical">ng iclass="Chemical">nformatioclass="Chemical">n supplied by the class="Chemical">n class="Chemical">authors. Such materials are peer reviewed and may be re‐organized for online delivery, but are not copy‐edited or typeset. Technical support issues arising from supporting information (other than missing files) should be addressed to the authors.
SupplementaryClick here for adnclass="Disease">ditioclass="Chemical">nal data file.
Authors: Elisa González-Fernández; Leo D M Nicholls; Lukas D Schaaf; Christophe Farès; Christian W Lehmann; Manuel Alcarazo Journal: J Am Chem Soc Date: 2017-01-23 Impact factor: 15.419