Phosphinine-Based Ligands in Homogeneous Catalysis: State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Despite the fact that phosphinines are known for more than 40 years and possess a rich and versatile coordination chemistry, investigations on their application as ligands in homogeneous catalysis are still comparatively rare. Nevertheless, their particular electronic and steric properties compared to classical phosphorus ligands, as well as the facile access to the related bicyclic phosphabarrelenes might lead to significant breakthroughs in homogeneous catalysis in the near future. So far, studies are limited to only a few examples but several promising results have recently emerged. State-of-the-art synthetic methodologies allow nowadays a straightforward derivatization and functionalization of phosphinine-based ligands and systems with tailored properties can thus be expected. This chapter exclusively focuses on phosphinines and phosphabarrelenes. Selected synthetic procedures for the preparation of functionalized ligands are presented and examples of their coordination chemistry towards catalytically relevant transition metals are provided. A detailed overview on their application as ligands in homogeneous catalysis is given.