Resolution of P-Sterogenic 1-Phenylphosphin-2-en-4-one 1-Oxide into Two Enantiomers by (R,R)-TADDOL and Conformational Diversity of the Phosphinenone Ring and TADDOL in the Crystal State.

The resolution of racemic 1-phenylphosphin-2-en-4-one 1-oxide (2), was achieved through the fractional crystallization of its diastereomeric complexes with (4R,5R)-(-)-2,2-dimethyl -α,α,α',α'-tetraphenyl-dioxolan-4,5-dimethanol (R,R-TADDOL) followed by the liberation of the individual enantiomers of 2 by flash chromatography on silica gel columns. The resolution process furnished the two enantiomers of 2 of 99.1 and 99.9% e.e. at isolated yields of 62 and 59% (counted for the single enantiomer), respectively. The absolute configurations of the two enantiomers were established by means of X-ray crystallography of their diastereomerically pure complexes, i.e., (R)-2•R,R)-TADDOL and (S)-2•(R,R)-TADDOL. The structural analysis revealed that in the (R)-2•(R,R)-TADDOL complex, the P-phenyl substituent occupied a pseudoequatorial position, whereas in (S)-2•(R,R)-TADDOL, it appeared in both the pseudoequatorial and the pseudoaxial positions in four symmetrically independent molecules. Concurrent conformational changes of the TADDOL molecules were best described by the observed changes of a pseudo-torsional CO...OC angle that could be considered as a possible measure of TADDOL conformation in its receptor-ligand complexes. The structural analysis of the (R,R)-TADDOL molecule revealed that efficiency of this compound for use as an effective resolving factor comes from its ability to flexibly fit its structure to both enantiomers of a ligand molecule, producing a rare case of resolution for both pure enantiomers with one chiral separating agent. The resolved (R)-2 was used to assign the absolute configuration of a recently described (-)-1-phenylphosphin-2-en-4-one 1-sulfide by chemical correlation. In addition, an attempted stereoretentive reduction of (R)-2 by PhSiH3 at 60 °C revealed an unexpectedly low barrier for P-inversion in 1-phenylphosphin-2-en-4-one.

Reduction of functionalized tertiary phosphine oxides with BH3.

A direct stereoselective conversion of tertiary hydroxyalkylphosphine oxides to the corresponding tertiary hydroxyalkylphosphine-boranes involving facile reduction of the P═O bond by BH3 under mild conditions has been developed. The unprecedented facility of reduction of the strong P═O bond by BH3, a mild reducing agent, has been achieved through an intramolecular P═O···B complexation directed by proximal α- or ß-hydroxy groups present in the phosphine oxide structures. As established by two chemical correlations, the developed transformation of hydroxyalkylphosphine oxides into hydroxyalkylphosphine-boranes takes place with complete inversion of configuration at P.

Structures and phase transitions in a new ferroelectric -- pyridinium chlorochromate -- studied by X-ray diffraction, DSC and dielectric methods.

Pyridinium chlorochromate, [C(5)H(5)NH](+)[ClCrO(3)](-) (hereafter referred to as PyClCrO(3)), was studied by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric methods. Studies reveal three reversible phase transitions at 346, 316 and 170 K with the following phase sequence: R ̅3m (I) → R3m (II) → Cm (III) → Cc (IV), c' = 2c. PyClCrO(3) is the first pyridinium salt in which all four phases have been successfully characterized by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. Structural results together with dielectric and calorimetric studies allow the classification of the two intermediate phases (II) and (III) as ferroelectric with the Curie point at 346 K, and the lowest phase (IV) as most probably ferroelectric. The ferroelectric hysteresis loop was observed only in phase (III). The high ionic conductivity hindered its observation in phase (II).

The neutron diffraction study, calorimetry and spontaneous polarization of pyridinium perrhenate at 350, 300 and 100 K.

The crystal and molecular structure of pyridinium perrhenate [H(5)C(5)NH](+) [ReO(4)](-) (hereafter referred to as PyReO(4)) was determined by single-crystal neutron diffraction at 350, 300 and 100 K. The neutron study confirmed the x-ray diffraction results in all three phases. The three temperature-dependent polymorphs are orthorhombic, with the following sequence of phases: Cmcm − → Cmc2(1) − → Pbca, with the a lattice parameter doubled. In the two high temperature phases the pyridinium cations display a rotational disorder while the perrhenate anions are well ordered. The low temperature phase is fully ordered. The neutron results allow for a very precise description of the distribution of the nitrogen atoms in the disordered pyridinium cation, which enables us to analyse the calorimetric and spontaneous polarization measurements. The results from the DSC and pyroelectric measurements point to a paraelectric (350 K), ferroelectric (300 K) with the Curie point at 336 K and antiferroelectric (100 K) crystal phases. The phase transition at 336 K can be classified as an order-disorder ferroelectric with a small displacive component.