Structure of Three Related Diphosphorus Ligands: Highlighting the Significance of the Backbone

Abstract

The three compounds contained in this report—4,6-bis(diphenylphosphino)-10,10-dimethylphenoxasilin (sixantphos), 1; 4,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)-9-isopropylidenexanthene, (isopropxantphos) 2 and bis-(2-diphenylphosphino)-p-tolyl) ether (PTEphos) 3, all contain a common ether-linked diphenylphosphino backbone. These structures are of interest with respect to the intra-molecular P···P distance which is 3.884(2), 4.104(2) and 5.151(2) A for 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The differences in the P···P distances are as a result of the variations in the backbones. Structure 1 shows a significant roof-like bending of the backbone along the axis of planarity involving the oxygen and Si donor atoms. Compound 2 is also folded with a larger dihedral angle of 35.85(2)° as compared to 24.14(2)° found in 1. The backbone in structure 3 is significantly bent and twisted with a dihedral angle of 67.34(2)°. These data show the effect on the intra-molecular P···P distance of varying the backbone of three xantphos-type ligands, with respect to the nature of the heterocycle donor 1, the substituent on the donor 2 and total loss of xanthene character 3. Differences in the P···P distances of three xantphos-based compounds are related to the variations in the backbones. These intra-molecular P···P distances vary between 3.884(2) A, 4.104(2) A and 5.151(2) A for the reported compounds.