What question did this study set out to answer?

To explore the synthesis and reactivity of a phosphaalumene(3) with potential for small molecule activation.

February 8, 2026Nature Communications0 citationsOpen Access

An isolable phosphaalumene(3) capable of small molecule activation via unique modes of reactivity

YCYan Cha ZYZhaoziyuan Yang XZXiao Zhuang

Key Points

To explore the synthesis and reactivity of a phosphaalumene(3) with potential for small molecule activation.
Synthesis of phosphaalumene(3) through reactions with bisphosphirane-fused anthracene or phospha-Wittig reagent.
Investigated reactivity under mild conditions with various small molecules.
Analyzed the effects of ligand environment on the observed reactivity.
Successfully synthesized phosphaalumene(3) using two different reaction pathways.
Phosphaalumene(3) demonstrates unique abilities to activate small molecules including dihydrogen, phosphorus, and isocyanides.
Ligand environment significantly influences the reactivity patterns of phosphaalumene(3).

Abstract

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 DippNacNacM (DippNacNac = HC(CMe)N(2,6-iPr2C6H3)2, 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 (H2), white phosphorus (P4), isocyanides, CO2, N2O, trimethylsilyl azide (TMSN3), diphenyl diselenide (PhSeSePh), PhSiH3, PhNH2, 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.

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