Phosphorus bonding features

In contrast to magnesium phosphandiides, analogous tin(II) derivatives possess more covalent metal-phosphorus bonds. This basic difference is also apparent for dilithium versus dicopper(I) phosphandiides (see Section II and III). It is, therefore, interesting to assess the structural and electronic features of such species in a similar way. To date, only three tin(II) phosphandiide derivatives have been prepared... 

By writing about complexes containing triple bonds between phosphorus and transition metals, one has to take into account the triple-bond character of phosphinidene complexes which are in a nearly linear coordination mode (type C) in contrast to the usual bent coordination mode D possessing typical double-bond features. Due to the additional r-donation bonding ability of the PR moiety to the metal atom in type C and the observed bond lengths, this type of complexes has to be included into the classes of metal-phosphorus triple bond compounds. Thus, at the end of this review will appear a chapter highlighting the appropriate compounds of type C. 

Because of some interesting bonding features, we devote a section to reactions with nitrogen and phosphorus Lewis bases. 

The VSEPR theory tells us that a pentacoordinate phosphorus atom features a trigonal bipyramidal geometry. There are two distinct sites on a trigonal bipyramid, the equatorial and the axial sites. The equatorial sites can be described as utilizing sp -orbitals, and the axial sites the remaining p-orbital. That would mean that the axial bonds have no s-character, and thus feature smaller J coupling constants... 

From a synthetic viewpoint, the significant feature of the classical Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction of an alkyl halide with a P(III) ester is the formation of a carbon-phosphorus bond. Since its discovery by Michaelis and Kaehne (222) in 1898, it has been the principle synthetic route to the phosphonic acids, which, with their esters and amides, probably outnumber all other compounds containing the carbon-phosphorus bond (105). 

The N—>P dative bonds are weak and different in lengths (1.800 A on average), and the triflate anions are effectively extended to consider interaction with the counter ion. Again the phosphorus atom is strongly pyramidalized and features the aspects of an inert nonbonding electron pair. 

Note Added in Proof This is nicely illustrated by the landmark publication of Protasiewicz et al. [94] who describe derivative (122), the first conjugated polymers featuring phosphorus-phosphorus multiple bonds (Scheme 33). The di-phosphene-PPV (122) exhibits an extended 71-conjugated system as shown by the optical HOMO-LUMO gap that is close to that of related PPV [94]. 

As described in several review articles [409,452-454] and books [10,13,15], this is basically due to the inherent features of the d -p bond in phosphazenes, which allows the permanent overlapping of the 2pj orbital of the skeletal nitrogens with any one of the 3p orbitals of the phosphorus atoms [455]. Such a high chain flexibihty generated very low glass transition temperatures in these polymers, which can reach values of about -100 °C when suitable flexible substituent groups (e.g. n-butanol) are present on the skeletal phosphorus [274]. 

The presence of heteroatoms usually provides a convenient feature for improving selectivity by employing selective detection mechanisms. GC may then use flame photometric detection (FPD) for S and P atoms and to a certain extent for N, Se, Si etc. thermoselective detection (TSD) and nitrogen-phosphorus detection (NPD) for N and P atoms electron capture detection (ECD) for halogen atoms (E, Cl, Br, and 1) and for systems with conjugated double bonds and electron-drawing groups or atomic emission detection (AED) for many heteroatoms. 

Examples of reactions involving replacement and cyclization are the long-known preparation of thiophenes (89) from 1,4-diketones, and the formation of l,2-dithiole-3-thione (90) from the salicylate ester analog (91).120 In the latter instance, oxidative cyclization with formation of an S—S bond has occurred this is a common feature of these reactions, particularly if such a link is needed to complete a five-membered ring. Another example of this aspect is afforded by the reaction of the propane-1,3-dione derivatives (92) which yield 3,5-diaryl-1,2-dithiolylium salts (93) when heated with phosphorus pentasulfide in carbon disulfide, followed by perchloric acid.121... 

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