Bimetallic Activation of White Phosphorus

Abstract

The formation of novel complexes [M(dppm)(Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂PPPP)]OTf (M = Rh, Ir, dppm = bisdiphenylphoshinomethane, OTf = OSO₂CF₃) bearing in their coordination sphere a new type of oligophosphorus ligands results from bimetallic activation and consequent transformation of white phosphorus. These complexes display electrophilic properties and can be activated either electrochemically or by interaction with nucleophilic reagents.

Keywords:

• Bimetallic cooperativity
• white phosphorus
• rhodium and iridium complexes
• polyphosphorus ligands

Acknowledgments

DY thanks INTAS (YS Fellowship Program Ref.Nr 03-55-2050) for financial support of this research and the Mayor of the Kazan City Ilsur R. Metshin and Committee Youth Affairs of Kazan City Administration for given opportunity to participate in the 17th International conference on phosphorus chemistry (Xiamen, China 2007). Financial support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR 06-03-32247-a) and Research and Educational Center of the Kazan State University-REC 007 (Y1-C-07-06) is also gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are also expressed to CNR/RAS bilateral agreement and to THERMPHOS INTERNATIONAL BV for a generous loan of white phosphorus and for supporting this research activity through a Post-doctoral research fellowship to MC.