An isolable phosphaalumene(3) capable of small molecule activation via unique modes of reactivity
The chemistry of phosphaalumenes [R-Al=P-R'] featuring multiple bonds between phosphorus and aluminum remains largely unexplored. Here we show the syntheses of a phosphaalumene(3) through either the reaction of <sup>Dipp</sup>NacNacM (<sup>Dipp</sup>NacNac = HC[(CMe)N(2,6-<sup>i</sup>Pr<sub>2</sub>C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>3</sub>)]<sub>2</sub>, M = Al) with a bisphosphirane-fused anthracene (1) or with a phospha-Wittig reagent (2) under mild conditions. This phosphaalumene exhibits reactivities that stand in contrast to those of previously reported transient species II, especially in its ability to activate small molecules such as dihydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>), white phosphorus (P<sub>4</sub>), isocyanides, CO<sub>2</sub>, N<sub>2</sub>O, trimethylsilyl azide (TMSN<sub>3</sub>), diphenyl diselenide (PhSeSePh), PhSiH<sub>3</sub>, PhNH<sub>2</sub>, styrene and 1-ethynyl-4-methylbenzene. It has been found in this research that the ligand environment can have a subtle but profound impact on the reactivity of phosphaalumenes.
Authors
- Zhaoziyuan Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1059-3714)
- Lingfei Wei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5035-4817)
- Ting Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4132-5448)
- Fei Luo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0358-2248)
- Qing Luo
- Yan Cha
- Xianjia Ni
- Xiao Zhuang
- Pengyu Gao
Institutions
- Sichuan University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-02-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69118-4
- Primary Topic
- Synthesis and characterization of novel inorganic/organometallic compounds
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Sichuan University
- Liaocheng University
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities