Synthesis of DPPP- and DPPPEN-Type Bidentate Ligands by Ring-Opening Diphosphination of Methylene- and Vinylcyclopropanes under Visible-Light-Promoted Photoredox Catalysis

A ring-opening diphosphination of methylene- and vinylcyclopropanes with tetraaryldiphosphines (Ar2P-PAr2) has been developed to afford the corresponding 1,3-diphenylphosphinopropane- and 1,3-diphenylphosphinopentane-type bidentate ligands, respectively. The reaction proceeds under bromine cation-initiated, visible-light-promoted photoredox catalysis at ambient temperature. Owing to the ready availability of functionalized diphosphines, the electronically diverse MeO- and CF3-substituted bidentate ligands are also easily prepared.