Stereochemical features of low-coordinate organophosphorus compounds

Abstract

Various kinds of sterically protected low-coordinate phosphorus compounds with Mes* (2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl) group such as diphosphenes, 1-phosphaethenes, 1-phosphaallenes, 1,3-diphosphaallenes, and 3,4-diphosphinidenecyclobutenes are discussed in terms of stereochemistry including E/Z photo-isomerization around the P = P or P = C bond and R/S identification of rotational isomers around the crowded P–C bonds. (π-Allyl)palladium complexes ligated with 3,4-diphosphinidenecyclobutenes are useful in catalytic organic reactions such as the Tsuji-Trost reaction and the mechanism is proposed to interpret products.