Reactivity of P4 butterfly complexes

The tetraphospha-bicyclo[1.1.0]butane (“P4 butterfly”) structural motif is obtained after the first step in the selective reductive cleavage of the P4 tetrahedron found in white phosphorus. Therefore, it is of utmost importance in the field of P4 activation. Within this thesis, various synthetic opportunities originating from compounds incorporating the P4 butterfly structural motif are illuminated. The isolobal compounds [{Cp‴Fe(CO)2}2(μ,η1:1-P4)] (A, Cp‴ = C5H2tBu3) and [{Cp*Cr(CO)2}3(μ,η1:1-P4)] (B, Cp* = C5(CH3)5) were chosen as starting materials for reactivity investigations concerning the central P4 butterfly moiety. The results reported in this thesis validated that the different substituents in A and B can have a significant influence on the respective reaction behavior. Next to coordination processes originating from the intact tetraphospha-bicyclo[1.1.0]butane structural motif numerous rearrangement, fragmentation and planarization pathways are described within this thesis. The observed processes are based on the reactivity of A and B towards various Lewis acids and nucleophiles (e.g. N-heterocyclic carbenes).