Reactive Organophosphorus Species: Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivity

• Applicant: Dr. Artur Mardyukov
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 448974012

Knowledge of the key properties of reactive species has provided valuable insights into the complex mechanisms of their formation and decomposition reactions. Despite longstanding spectroscopic interest and recent efforts in the development of molecular precursors phosphinidene chemistry remains largely unexplored, and there are only rare examples of main-group molecules containing low-coordinate phosphorus and related species. Here we propose some of the key aspects of phosphorus-containing reactive species namely triplet phosphinidenes. Presumably, the lack of reports on R–P (R = H, alkyl, vinyl, aryl) chemistry is tied to the difficulty of preparing appropriate synthetic precursors. Most studied cases of phosphinidene reactions involve phosphinidene units stabilized by metal or Lewis-based complexation, but the chemistry of “free” phosphinidenes is in its infancy. In this project, we will approach the preparation, explore the reactivity, full spectroscopic as well as theoretical characterization of novel reactive molecules featuring low-valent phosphorus by utilizing cryogenic (5–12 K) matrix isolation techniques in solid inert gases (Ar, Xe, and N2).

• DFG Programme: Research Grants