E-H Bond Activation of Ammonia and Water by a Geometrically Constrained Phosphorus(III) Compound

The synthesis of a phosphorus(III) compound bearing a N,N-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-phenoxy)amide ligand is reported. This species has been found to react with ammonia and water, activating the E-H bonds in both substrates by formal oxidative addition to afford the corresponding phosphorus(V) compounds. In the case of water, both O-H bonds can be activated, splitting the molecule into its constituent elements. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a compound based on main group elements that sequentially activates water in this manner.