Synthesis, Structure, and Reactivities of Iminosulfane‐ and Phosphane‐Stabilized Carbones Exhibiting Four‐Electron Donor Ability

Iminosulfane(phosphane)carbon(0) derivatives (iSPCs; Ar3 P→C←SPh2 (NMe); Ar=Ph (1), 4-MeOC6 H4 (2), 4-(Me2 N)C6 H4 (3)) have been successfully synthesized and the molecular structure of 3 characterized. Carbone 3 is the first thermally and hydrolytically stable carbone stabilized by phosphorus and sulfur ligands. DFT calculations reveal the electronic structures of 1-3, which have two lone pairs of electrons at the carbon center. First and second proton affinity values are theoretically calculated to be in the range of 286.8-301.1 and 189.6-208.3 kcal mol(-1) , respectively. Cyclic voltammetry measurements reveal that the HOMO energy levels follow the order of 3>2>1 and the HOMO of 3 is at a higher energy than those of bis(chalcogenane)carbon(0) (BChCs). The reactivities of these lone pairs of electrons are demonstrated by the C-diaurated and C-proton-aurated complexes. These results are the first experimental evidence of phosphorus- and sulfur-stabilized carbones behaving as four-electron donors. In addition, the reaction of hydrochloric salts of the carbones with Ag2 O gives the corresponding Ag(I) complexes. The resulting silver(I) carbone complexes can be used as carbone transfer agents. This synthetic protocol can also be used for moisture-sensitive carbone species.