Computational study of sulfur atom-transfer reactions from thiiranes to ER3 (E = As, P; R = CH3, Ph)

Computational estimates have been made for the P=S and As=S bond strengths in triphenylphosphine sulfide and triphenylarsine sulfide, on the basis of G3 calculations for the methyl analogues and isodesmic-exchange reactions. Also, with the performance of the G3 method level for related compounds taken into consideration, the best estimates are 82 and 68 kcal/mol, respectively. While the value for triphenylarsine sulfide is within 2 kcal/mol of the single experimental estimate, that for triphenylphosphine sulfide is lower by 6 kcal/mol. (Capps, K. B.; Wixmerten, B.; Bauer, A.; Hoff, C. D. Inorg. Chem. 1998, 37, 2861-2864.) Despite virtually identical electronegativities of P and As, it is found that there is greater charge separation in the P=S bond. It is found that S atom transfer from thiiranes to arsines is exothermic.