An imine–gallium Lewis pair stabilized oxophosphinidene via an unexpected phosphirene rearrangement

Abstract

The reaction of a DAC-derived phosphirene 1 with AlCl₃ reveals the formation of a simple donor acceptor adduct 2 of the DAC carbonyl fragments with AlCl₃. In contrast, GaCl₃ induces an unexpected rearrangement leading to the formation of an imine/GaCl₃ stabilized 1,2-azaphosphole-based oxophosphinidene 3. This latter compound represents the first example of the R–PO fragment stabilized by a main group donor–acceptor interaction.