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Published on: July 28, 2022
Ambiphilic Phosphinidene-Enabled Regioselective Ring-Opening of Epoxides
Yang Li1, Zhenhai Shan1, Rongqiang Tian1
1College of Chemistry, International Phosphorus Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China.
None:
We disclose the use of phosphinidene as a single ambiphilic atom center that enables regioselective ring-opening of epoxides. A range of phosphinidene precursors and various epoxides are compatible with this transformation, affording the corresponding allyloxy phosphines. DFT calculations support a concerted mechanism in which the phosphinidene simultaneously interacts with both the oxygen atom and the β-hydrogen of the epoxides. This work offers a new strategy for small-molecule activation by low-coordinate main-group species.
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