Effects of diminished steric protection at phosphorus on stability and reactivity of oxaphosphirane complexes

Dalton Trans. 2018 Jul 17;47(28):9347-9354. doi: 10.1039/c8dt01979g.

Abstract

Readily available P-tBu substituted Li/Cl phosphinidenoid complexes react with carbonyl compounds to furnish sterically almost unhindered oxaphosphirane complexes that reveal new and surprisingly facile intra- and intermolecular ring expansion reactions. 1,3,2-Dioxaphosphole complex formation is explained by DFT calculations through diastereoselective carbonyl group-induced ring cleavage of an oxaphosphirane intermediate.