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Published on: April 12, 2019
π-Electron Fluctuation-Induced P+ /C- Ambiphilic Interaction for Intramolecular CAr -H Bond Activation
Jianzhou Chen1, Junjian Wang1, Xinghua Wang1
1College of Chemistry, Green Catalysis Center, International Phosphorus Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, 450001, Zhengzhou, China.
Abstract:
Herein, we describe how computational mechanistic understanding has led directly to the discovery of new 2H-phosphindole for C-CAr bond activation and dearomatization reaction. We uncover an unexpected intramolecular C-H bond activation with a 2H-phosphindole derivative. This new intriguing experimental observation and further theoretical studies led to an extension of the reaction mechanism with 2H-phosphindole. Through DFT calculations, we confirm that within a five-membered ring, the polarizable PC3 unit orchestrates the formation of an electrophilic phosphorus atom (P+ ) and a nucleophilic carbon atom (C- ). This kinetically accessible ambiphilic phosphorus/carbon couple is spatially separated by geometric constraints, and their reactivity is modulated through structural resonance.
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