Dehydrocoupling of phosphine-boranes using the [RhCp*Me(PMe3)(CH2Cl2)][BArF4] precatalyst: stoichiometric and
Thomas N Hooper1, Andrew S Weller1, Nicholas A Beattie2
1Department of Chemistry , Chemistry Research Laboratories , University of Oxford , Mansfield Road , Oxford , OX1 3TA , UK .
Abstract:
We report a detailed, combined experimental and computational study on the fundamental B-H and P-H bond activation steps involved in the dehydrocoupling/dehydropolymerization of primary and secondary phosphine-boranes, H3B·PPhR'H (R = Ph, H), using [RhCp*(PMe3)Me(ClCH2Cl)][BArF4], to either form polyphosphino-boranes [H2B·PPhH] (Mn ∼ 15 000 g mol-1, PDI = 2.2) or the linear diboraphosphine H3B·PPh2BH2·PPh2H. A likely polymer-growth pathway of reversible chain transfer step-growth is suggested for H3B·PPhH2. Using secondary phosphine-boranes as model substrates a combined synthesis, structural (X-ray crystallography), labelling and computational approach reveals: initial bond activation pathways (B-H activation precedes P-H activation); key intermediates (phosphido-boranes, α-B-agostic base-stabilized boryls); and a catalytic route to the primary diboraphosphine (H3B·PPhHBH2·PPhH2). It is also shown that by changing the substituent at phosphorus (Ph or Cy versus Bu) different final products result (phosphido-borane or base stabilized phosphino-borane respectively). These studies provide detailed insight into the pathways that are operating during dehydropolymerization.
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