Organophosphorus chemistry is of immense current interest both from a fundamental standpoint and in view of its wide-ranging applications (e.g. in catalysis). Standard syntheses of organophosphorus compounds involve the hazardous oxidation of white phosphorus (P4) with chlorine gas and the development of alternative routes is therefore desirable. In this project, novel approaches to the synthesis of organophosphosphorus compounds will be investigated. More specifically, the generation of complexes containing functionalized organophosphorus ligands from low-valent complexes of the group 4 and 5 metals and simple starting materials such as P4 or phosphaalkynes will be attempted. Release of these ligands from the metal is expected to give valuable organophosphorus reagents and offers the possibility to recycle the transition metal component. Thus, the fundamental synthetic and theoretical studies proposed here should provide key insights for the development of new catalytic conversions of P4 and phosphaalkynes mediated by transition metal complexes.
