Internal Coulombic assistance in intermolecular frustrated Lewis pair activation of dihydrogen†
Abstract
1,3-Zwitterions consisting of a phosphonium cation linked to a silicate centre through a one-atom bridge, X3P–E–SiY4 (3), are computationally studied. Their phosphonium acidic group together with a Lewis base constitute a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) in the activation of H2, with the silicate side-arm providing Coulombic stabilization to the positive charge at the Lewis base.