61 / 2023-08-15 14:50:04

Metallomimetic Chemistry of Novel Phosphenium Cation

small molecules,phosphenium,phosphorus,catalysis,hydrogen

Phosphorus in Synthetic Chemistry > 1) Phosphorus compounds as catalysts

Main-group compounds that can mimic the behavior of the transition-metal (TM) complexes are of great interest due to their potential in TM-free catalysis. In this work^[1] we report the synthesis, isolation, and full characterization of the geometrically constrained phosphenium cation with the 2,6-bis(o-carborano)pyridine pincer-type ligand. A preliminary reactivity study showed that this cation is capable of activating the H−H bond by a formal oxidative addition to P^III cationic center, which is unprecedented reactivity for P^III -centers, producing new dihydrophosphonium cation. Remarkably, this new phosphenium cation is capable of catalyzing the hydrogenation reactions of C=C double bonds and fused aromatic systems.