An Unprecedented Ga/P Frustrated Lewis Pair: Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity

Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) represent a new paradigm of main-group chemistry. The Lewis acidic centers in FLP chemistry are typically B and Al atoms in the studies reported over the past decade, and most of them are tri-coordinated with strong electron-withdrawing groups. Herein, a Ga/P system is reported which contains an unprecedented four-coordinated Lewis acidic Ga center. This Ga/P species performs classical addition reactions toward heterocumulenes, alkyne, diazomethane, and transition metal complex. Regioselective formation of the products can be rationalized by DFT calculations. The penta-coordinated gallium atom center in these products is rare in the FLP chemistry. This study enriches the diversity of FLPs and demonstrates that a four-coordinated Lewis acidic site with a donor-acceptor bond can also be FLP active.