Reactivity studies of phosphorus-stabilised yttrium carbene complexes

• Main Author: Soutar, Lyndsay
• Published: University of Nottingham 2016
• Subjects: 540
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.754214

Reactivity studies of [Y(BIPM)(I)(THF)2] (73), [Y(BIPM)(CH2SiMe3)(THF)] (74) and [Y(BIPM)(CH2Ph)(THF)] (75) towards a range of unsaturated compounds have been performed. The isolation of single crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction studies for all the systems investigated has proven problematic. The low crystalline yields observed, where crystals of suitable quality for single crystal X-ray diffraction studies were obtainable, is a reflection of the high solubility of many of the products. The reactivity of 74 and 75 towards anthracene aldehyde and benzaldehyde revealed Wittig-type reactivity to yield the alkene products (Me3SiNPPh2)2C=C(H)R (65) (R = 9-anthracene) and (Me3SiNPPh2)2C=C(H)Ph (66), respectively. The respective reactions of 74 and 75 with four equivalents of acetophenone yielded the previously reported dypnopinacol 111 via a cyclotetramerization reaction.