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obtain the corresponding Pt allyl analogue 5a. In this case, the
31
diagnostic appearance of satellite signals in the P NMR spec-
1
trum ( J =2188.0 Hz) confirmed the formation of a PtꢀP
P–Pt
bond.
Furthermore, compounds 1a, 1d, 1 f, and 1g were reacted
with K [PtCl ], affording the trichloroplatinate complexes 6a,
2
4
6
d, 6 f, and 6g, respectively, as intensely yellow solids. In
these cases again the presence of satellite signals in the
31
1
P NMR spectrum with J =2011.0 Hz (6a), 2000.8 Hz (6d),
P–Pt
2016.8 Hz (6 f), and 2037.3 Hz (6g) indicated the formation of
the desired adducts, an extreme that could be later confirmed
by crystallographic analysis in the case of 6d. As expected, co-
ordination of the P atom to a metal center cancels any possi-
ble back-donation from the phosphorous to the cyclopropeni-
um ring. Thus, a slight elongation of the C1ꢀP1 bond is ob-
served in the coordinated phosphine moieties when compared
to the free ligands.
In an attempt to further study the reactivity of cyclopropeni-
um-substituted phosphines, we allowed a solution of 1a in di-
chloromethane to react with [Pd (dba) ] at room temperature.
2
3
Under these conditions a characteristic yellow color gradually
appeared together with the concomitant release of dba. After
work up, the newly formed compound exhibited a very indica-
31
tive P NMR upfield signal at (d=ꢀ130.6 ppm), which cannot
[
6]
Scheme 3. Synthesis of 3a–g and X-ray structure of 3e. Hydrogen atoms
and tetrafluoroborate counteranions are omitted for clarity; ellipsoids are set
at 50% probablility. Reagents and conditions (product yields in parentheses):
be attributed to the phosphorus atom of any of our phos-
phines; in fact, that is the region where anionic phosphide li-
ꢀ
a) phosphine (2 equiv), [{RhCl(CO)}
2
], (1 equiv) THF, ꢀ208C!RT, 3a (93%);
gands [R P] appear. Furthermore, the ESI mass spectrometry
2
3
b (98%), 3d (98%); 3e (98%); 3 f (97%); 3g (93%).
indicated that the newly formed complex is a salt whose cat-
ionic part contains two Pd atoms. Fortunately, after several at-
tempts, crystallization from acetonitrile afforded single crystals
of 7a,b that where suitable for a crystallographic analysis and
allowed the determination of their connectivity (Scheme 5). In-
chosen as a more reliable procedure to rank the donor proper-
[
7,8]
ties of cyclopropenium-substituted phosphines.
0
In sharp contrast to IR spectroscopy, the oxidation potentials
Ep (ox) of phosphines 1a–g, determined by cyclic voltammetry
are indicative of weak neat donations that are similar or even
poorer than those shown by phosphites (Table 1). This ranking
is now in complete agreement with our experiments on the
catalytic activity of Pt complexes bearing ligands 1a–g de-
scribed below. To conclude the stereoelectronic characteriza-
tion, the Tolman cone angle for ligands 1a,c–g has been deter-
mined from X-ray structures to be around 1748, which indi-
terestingly, an oxidative insertion of Pd into the CꢀP bond of
II
1a had taken place, providing a Pd -cyclopropenylidene com-
plex. Furthermore, two phosphide moieties act as bridging li-
gands between the two Pd centers and the remaining coordi-
II
nation position on each Pd is occupied by a molecule of ace-
tonitrile used as solvent for crystallization. From the distance
between the two Pd atoms (3.540 ꢂ) any significant interaction
between them can be ruled out. Their coordination is planar
with a sum of the angles around each Pd of exactly 360.08.
[
9]
0
cates a steric demand similar to PCy3.
If [Pd(PPh3)4] is employed as Pd source instead of
[
Pd (dba) ], more forcing conditions are necessary (toluene,
2 3
reflux) to observe the same kind of products. Note however
Coordination chemistry
that now PPh instead of acetonitrile occupies the coordination
3
We then decided to study the coordination chemistry of these
vacancy created at each Pd atom of 8a. It should be men-
tioned that the oxidative insertion of low-valent metals into
CꢀCl bonds of appropriate halo-imidinium salts is a well-
known process; however, to the best of our knowledge, the in-
sertion into the CꢀP bond of cyclopropenium salts is unprece-
II
II
cationic phosphines towards Pd and Pt species. Thus, reac-
tion of 1a and 1 f with a half equivalent of [{PdCl(allyl)} ] in
2
THF led to quantitative yields of the corresponding adducts 4a
and 4 f. The coordination of phosphorus to the palladium
31
[10]
atom was initially reflected by a significant shift of the P NMR
dented.
resonance signals from d=ꢀ23.6 and ꢀ24.6 ppm in 1a and
1
f to d=26.9 and 25.5 ppm in 4a and 4 f, respectively. More-
Catalysis
over, crystals of 4 f were obtained and its structure determined
unambiguously by X-ray diffraction, confirming the expected
To compare the catalytic performance of our cationic ligands
against standard phosphines, the platinum-catalyzed 6-endo-
dig cyclization of 2-ethynyl-1,1’-binaphtalene 9 into pentaheli-
connectivity (Scheme 4).
A similar procedure, but using
0
.25 equiv of [{PtCl(allyl)} ] instead, was also a viable way to
4
Chem. Eur. J. 2014, 20, 2208 – 2214
2210
ꢁ 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim