Simple tertiary phosphines to hexaphosphane ligands: Syntheses, transition metal chemistry and their catalytic applications

Abstract

Designing efficient phosphorus-based ligands to make catalysts for homogeneous catalysis has been a great challenge for chemists. Despite a plethora of phosphorus ligands ranging from simple tertiary phosphines to polyphosphines are known, the enthusiasm to generate new ones is mainly due to the demand from industry for economical and robust catalytic system operational under normal atmospheric conditions. In this context, we have developed new synthetic methodologies for making unusual inorganic ring systems containing trivalent phosphorus centres, novel phosphorus-based multidentate and hybrid ligands and explored their rich transition metal chemistry and catalytic applications. We have also fine tuned a few existing ligand systems with donor functionalities to employ them in homogeneous catalysis. The details are summarized in this account. © 2012 Indian Academy of Sciences.