Volume 64, Issue 30 e202505454
Research Article

Quaternary Phosphonium Salts Enable Palladium-Catalyzed Annulative C─H Activation of Aminophosphines with Alkynes

Lin Lin

Lin Lin

State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093 China

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Tianbao Wu

Tianbao Wu

State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093 China

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Prof. Dr. Minyan Wang

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Minyan Wang

State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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Dr. Ronghui Huang

Dr. Ronghui Huang

State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093 China

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Prof. Dr. Xiuxiu Yang

Prof. Dr. Xiuxiu Yang

State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093 China

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Dr. Yue Zhao

Dr. Yue Zhao

State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093 China

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Prof. Dr. Zhuangzhi Shi

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Zhuangzhi Shi

State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093 China

School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023 China

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453007 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 20 May 2025

Graphical Abstract

We developed a palladium-catalyzed system for P(III)-directed C─H activation of aminophosphines and cyclization with alkynes facilitated by deprotonative isomerization, using phosphonium salts as key additives. These salts lower energy barriers, regenerate the catalyst, and protect the P(III) group, enabling stereospecific synthesis of chiral phosphacycles.

Abstract

Quaternary phosphonium salts, despite their extensive historical study, have remained unexplored as key additives in transition metal catalysis until our current investigation. Here, we present a groundbreaking palladium-catalyzed system for P(III)-directed C─H activation of aminophosphines, followed by annulation with alkynes. By utilizing P-stereogenic aminophosphines, we have achieved the stereospecific synthesis of chiral phosphacycles. This innovative process, facilitated by deprotonative isomerization, efficiently yields a wide range of P-heterocycles. The pivotal breakthrough of our methodology lies in the identification of phosphonium salts as effective additives, which undertake multiple functions: they not only reduce the energy barrier of pivotal steps but also regenerate the palladium catalyst while safeguarding the P(III) directing group from oxidation. Through systematic experimental investigations, particularly by comparing transition states with and without quaternary phosphonium salts, we have elucidated the unique reaction pathway, thereby explaining the critical role of the salts.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the Supporting Information of this article.

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