Preparation of Phosphonium Cumulene Cations

In the last two decades there has been growing interest in understanding the structure and reactivity of chemicals containing phosphorus. Phosphorus compounds are known for their applications in organic synthesis, materials science, and catalysis. Developments in these applied areas has been enabled through fundamental studies which describe synthetic methods for preparing new phosphorus molecules. Fundamental studies that focus on the Lewis acid characteristics of phosphorus compounds are necessary to make advancements in catalysis. Lewis acidity is a property of molecules that describes their ability to attract electrons, which is critical to the activation of commercial substrates in stoichiometric and catalytic transformations. The proposed research discloses a synthetic method to isolate a novel type of compound known as a phosphonium cumulene cation. We will prepare these molecules by combining protocols developed by the Caputo and Dielmann labs. The structure and reactivity of the proposed molecules will advance the known Lewis acid chemistry of phosphorus and may have implications in inert molecule activations for stoichiometric and catalytic reactions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Christopher Caputo

Student:

Partner:

University of Innsbruck

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Education

University:

York University

Program: