Exploration of isomeric bis(phosphanyl)-substituted carbenium ions: identification and synthesis of the most stable isomer†
Abstract
Isomeric bis(phosphanyl) carbenium ions have been investigated by theoretical [MP2/6-31G(d,p) level of theory] and experimental means. On the potential energy surface (PH]+ 2a (4.5) ≫ bis(phosphanyl) carbenium, [CH(PH2)2]+ 3a (18.5) > C-phosphanyl methylenephosphonium, [H2P–CH
PH2]+ 4a (22.6) ≫ diphosphirenium, 5a (47.1). The stability order is very different for the family of the four related stable [P2CH(NH2)4]+ ions 1b, 2b, 4b, 5b in which the phosphorus-bound hydrogens (and one carbon-bound hydrogen in the case of 1b) have been replaced by NH2 groups: 2b (−39.6) ≫ 1b (0.0) > 5b (2.2) ≥ 4b (3.7). None of these ions has a structure comparable to the classical amidinium ion [HC(NH2)2]+. While all amino carbenium ions have a positively charged carbon atom, all phosphorus analogues carry a negative charge on carbon. In some, even the p(π)-population exceeds unity suggesting that these should be considered as cationic methanides. Experimentally, a derivative of the diphosphiranium ion 1a could be prepared by