Using the Secondary PH/BH Functional Groups of an Active Geminal Frustrated Lewis Pair for Carbon Monoxide Reduction and Reactions with Nitriles and Isonitriles

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/anie.202000612

Reaction of the secondary alkynyl(Mes*)PH phosphane 2 with (Fmes)BH₂?SMe₂ gives the geminal PH/BH frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) 3. The PH and the BH functions are jointly used in the reduction of carbon monoxide under mild reaction conditions to give the [P]-CH₂-O-[B] product. A subsequent cycloaddition sequence results in the liberation of formaldehyde. The FLP 3 reacts with benzonitrile to give a P-benzamidine, and it couples two isonitriles at the FLP framework.