Radical-based reduction of phosphine sulfides and phosphine selenides by (Me3Si)3SiH

Metal-free reductive desulfurization of C-sp3-substituted thiols using phosphite catalysis

Phosphines and phosphites are critical tools for non-metal desulfurative methodologies due to the strength of the P[double bond, length as m-dash]S bond. An overarching premise in these methods has been that stoichiometric (or excess) P(iii) reagent is required for reactivity. Despite decades of research, a desulfurative process that is catalytic in phosphine/phosphite has not been reported. Here, we report the successful merging of two thermal radical processes: the desulfurization of unactivated and activated alkyl thiols and the reduction of P(v) = S to P(iii) by reaction with a silyl radical species. We employ catalytic trimethyl phosphite, catalytic azo-bis(cyclohexyl)nitrile, and two equivalents of tris(trimethylsilyl)silane as the stoichiometric reductant and sulfur atom scavenger. This method is tolerant of common organic functional groups and affords products in good to excellent yields.

Recent applications of the (TMS)3SiH radical-based reagent

This review article focuses on the recent applications of tris(trimethylsilyl)silane as a radical-based reagent in organic chemistry. Numerous examples of the successful use of (TMS)(3)SiH in radical reductions, hydrosilylation and consecutive radical reactions are given. The use of (TMS)(3)SiH allows reactions to be carried out under mild conditions with excellent yields of products and remarkable chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. The strategic role of (TMS)(3)SiH in polymerization is underlined with emphasis on the photo-induced radical polymerization of olefins and photo-promoted cationic polymerization of epoxides.

1-Alkynylphosphines and their derivatives as key starting materials in creating new phosphines

This Focus Review summarizes transformations of 1-alkynylphosphines and their derivatives directed toward the synthesis of new phosphines. Owing to the importance of organophosphines as ligands for transition metal catalysts, development of efficient methods for the synthesis of new phosphines is quite important. 1-Alkynylphosphines and their derivatives have been emerging as useful precursors for the creation of new phosphines. Chemical modifications of the carbon-carbon triple bonds, including nucleophilic addition and cycloaddition, lead to a wide range of new useful phosphines that are otherwise difficult to synthesize.

Nanowire transformation by size-dependent cation exchange reactions

The unique properties of nanostructured materials enable their transformation into complex, kinetically controlled morphologies that cannot be obtained during their growth. Solution-phase cation-exchange reactions can transform sub-10 nm nanocrystals/nanorods into varying compositions and superlattice structures; however, because of their small size, cation-exchange reaction rates are extremely fast, which limits control over the transformed products and possibilities for obtaining new morphologies. Nanowires are routinely synthesized via gas-phase reactions with 5-200 nm diameters, and their large aspect ratios allow them to be electrically addressed individually. To realize their full potential, it is desirable to develop techniques that can transform nanowires into tunable but precisely controlled morphologies, especially in the gas-phase, to be compatible with nanowire growth schemes. We report transformation of single-crystalline cadmium sulfide nanowires into composition-controlled Zn(x)Cd((1-x))S nanowires, core-shell heterostructures, metal-semiconductor superlattices (Zn-Zn(x)Cd((1-x))S), single-crystalline ZnS nanotubes, and eventually metallic Zn nanowires by utilizing size-dependent cation-exchange reaction along with temperature and gas-phase reactant delivery control. This versatile synthetic ability to transform nanowires offers new opportunities to study size-dependent phenomena at the nanoscale and tune their chemical/physical properties to design reconfigurable circuits.

Copper-Catalyzed anti-Hydrophosphination Reaction of 1-Alkynylphosphines with Diphenylphosphine Providing (Z)-1,2-Diphosphino-1-alkenes

Hydrophosphination of 1-alkynylphosphines with diphenylphosphine proceeds in an anti fashion under copper catalysis, providing an easy and efficient access to a variety of (Z)-1,2-diphosphino-1-alkenes and their sulfides. The reaction is highly chemoselective and can be performed even in an aqueous medium. The reaction is reliable enough to realize a gram-scale synthesis of (Z)-1,2-diphosphino-1-alkene. Radical reduction of the diphosphine disulfides with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane yields the parent trivalent diphosphines without suffering from the isomerization of the olefinic geometry. Enantioselective hydrogenation of (Z)-3,3-dimethyl-1,2-bis(diphenylthiophosphinyl)-1-butene followed by desulfidation leads to a new chiral bidentate phosphine ligand.

Recent advances in the use of phosphorus-centered radicals in organic chemistry

This tutorial review aims at presenting recent contributions dealing with organic chemistry of organophosphorus radicals. The first part briefly lays out the physical organic background of such intermediates. In a second part the use of organophosphorus radicals possessing a P-H bond that can undergo homolytic cleavage as alternative mediators is detailed. The third part is focused on radical additions of phosphorus-centered radicals to unsaturated compounds, an old reaction that is being rejuvenated. Lastly, radical eliminations of phosphorus-centered radical are introduced in the fourth part. Most of the latter are relatively novel reactions, and have never been reviewed previously.

Radical Deoxygenation of Hydroxyl Groups via Phosphites

A highly efficient, two-step sequence method for the deoxygenation of hydroxyl groups has been developed. The method involves the preparation of the 2-(2-iodophenyl)ethyl methyl phosphite derivative of an alcohol using methyl dichlorophosphite and 2-(2-iodophenyl)ethanol. Treatment of the phosphite intermediate with (n-Bu)3SnH/AIBN in refluxing benzene cleanly produces the deoxygenation product of the original alcohol.