(p-(Diphenylarsino)phenyl)diphenylphosphine as a Novel Template for Heterodinuclear Complexes

Phosphorus and arsenic have different coordination ability to Lewis acids, though they belong to 15 group. Utilizing the difference, we designed a novel ligand, (p-(diphenylarsino)phenyl)diphenylphosphine, in which diphenylphosphine and diphenylarsine units are combined through a p-phenylene linker, as a template to arrange Lewis acids. The phosphorus atom exhibited superior coordination ability to the arsenic one. NMR studies revealed that BH3, AuCl, and PtCl2 were preferentially coordinated by the phosphorus atom. Sequential addition of these Lewis acids realized precise arrangement on the template ligand.

Automated summary

By designing a novel ligand with a template based on the difference in coordination ability between phosphorus and arsenic, precise arrangement of Lewis acids was achieved on the template ligand.