Volume 55, Issue 40 pp. 12214-12218
Communication

Metal-Free Activation of Hydrogen, Carbon Dioxide, and Ammonia by the Open-Shell Singlet Biradicaloid [P(μ-NTer)]2

Dr. Alexander Hinz

Dr. Alexander Hinz

Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Chemistry Research Laboratory, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, UK

Search for more papers by this author
Prof. Dr. Axel Schulz

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Axel Schulz

Institut für Chemie, Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 3a, 18059 Rostock, Germany

Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. an der Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 29a, 18059 Rostock, Germany

Search for more papers by this author
Dr. Alexander Villinger

Dr. Alexander Villinger

Institut für Chemie, Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 3a, 18059 Rostock, Germany

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 01 September 2016
Citations: 60

Graphical Abstract

Don't wait for activation: The singlet biradicaloid [P(μ-NTer)]2 readily reacts with H2, CO2, or NH3 at ambient temperature. The addition of H2 is reversible whereas CO2 is reduced to CO with formation of “biradicaloid monoxide”. Activation of ammonia causes the P2N2 scaffold to rearrange to give an azadiphosphiridine.

Abstract

The Group 15 open-shell singlet biradicaloid [P(μ-NTer)]2 (Ter=2,6-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phenyl) was utilized in the activation of stable small molecules. Fast reactions with H2, CO2, and NH3 were observed. Dihydrogen easily added to [P(μ-NTer)]2 , yielding [HP(μ-NTer)]2 under ambient conditions whereas reversible release of molecular hydrogen was observed at slightly elevated temperatures (T>60 °C). As [P(μ-NTer)]2 is a species with phosphorus in the unusual formal oxidation state +II, it is capable of reducing carbon dioxide to afford a zwitterionic compound, [OP(μ-NTer)2P], and carbon monoxide. The reaction of [P(μ-NTer)]2 with ammonia led to the formation of an azadiphosphiridine after rearrangements of the central P2N2 heterocycle.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.