Phosphinine‐Based Ligands in Gold‐Catalyzed Reactions

A series of substituted phosphinines, 1-phosphabarrelenes and 5-phosphasemibullvalenes were synthesized and evaluated for their potential application as ligands in homogeneous catalytic reactions. While their buried volume (%Vbur) was calculated to get insight into the steric properties, [LNi(CO)3] complexes were prepared in order to determine the corresponding Tolman electronic parameter. ETS-NOCV (extended-transition-state natural orbital for chemical valence) calculations on [LAuCl] complexes further allowed an estimation of the σ‐ and π‐contributions to the L-M interaction. AuI coordination compounds of selected examples were prepared and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Finally, the three classes of PIII compounds were successfully used in the AuI-catalyzed cycloisomerization of N-2-propyn-1-ylbenzamide, showing very good activities and selectivities, which are comparable with the reported data of cationic phosphorus-based gold catalysts.