Toward Metathesis Reactions on Vinylphosphaalkenes

Abstract

Attempts to utilize C-ethylenic phosphaalkenes in metathesis reactions are discussed. Unprecedented reactivity is observed where the vinylphosphaalkene undergoes the first step of the catalytic cycle and cross-metathesis with the phenylmethylene moiety of Grubbs 2nd generation catalyst. However, homo-metathesis reaction to form 1,6-diphosphahexa-1,3,5-triene is not observed, presumably due to steric constraints.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Phosphaalkene
• olefin
• π-conjugation
• metathesis

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Göran Gustafsson Foundation, COST action 0802 PhoSciNet and Uppsala University through the U³MEC molecular electronics priority initiative. A. Orthaber would like to thank the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) for financial support through an Erwin-Schrödinger fellowship (J3193).