Sterically constrained tricyclic phosphine: redox behaviour, reductive and oxidative cleavage of P–C bonds, generation of a dilithium phosphaindole as a promising synthon in phosphine chemistry

Abstract

The redox behaviour of sterically constrained tricyclic phosphine 3a was investigated by spectroelectrochemistry. The data suggested a highly negative reduction potential with the reversible formation of a dianionic species. Accordingly, 3a reacted with two equivalents of Li/naphthalene by reductive cleavage of a P–C bond of one of the PC₄ heterocycles. The resulting dilithium compound 5 represents a phosphaindole derivative with annulated aromatic C₆ and PC₄ rings. It is an interesting starting material for the synthesis of new heterocyclic molecules, as was shown by treatment with Me₂SiCl₂ and PhPCl₂. The structures of the products (6 and 7) formally reflect ring expansion by insertion of silylen or phosphinidene fragments into a P–C bond of 3a. Treatment of 3a with H₂O₂ did not result in the usually observed transfer of a single O atom to phosphorus, but oxidative cleavage of a strained PC₄ ring afforded a bicyclic phosphinic acid, R₂PO₂H.