A carbene-stabilized diphosphorus: a triple-bonded diphosphorus (PP) and a bis(phosphinidene) (P–P) transfer agent

Abstract

The reaction of the N,N-diisopropyl bromoiminium salt with excess sodium phosphaethynolate (NaPCO) affords a diphospha-urea 2. Under blue light irradiation (450 nm), carbon monoxide is liberated affording the bis(carbene)P₂ adduct 3. Photolysis of a benzene solution of 3 at 365 nm gives rise to the carbene dimer, namely the 1,2-bis(diisopropylamino)ethylene as a cis/trans mixture, along with white and red phosphorus. Under the same experimental conditions, but in the presence of excess 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, the classical double Diels–Alder adduct of the triple-bonded diphosphorus PP was obtained along with the bis(phospholene) formally resulting from a double [4 + 1] reaction of the diene with the bis(phosphinidene) form of P₂. A stepwise carbene–carbene exchange reaction also occurs between the monosubstituted aminocarbene of 3 and a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene, possibly involving the transient formation of a diphosphorus analogue of a diazo compound.