Polycationic ligands in gold catalysis: synthesis and applications of extremely π-acidic catalysts.

Very often ligands are anionic or neutral species. Cationic ones are rare, and, when used, the positively charged groups are normally appended to the periphery of the ligand. Here, we describe a dicationic phosphine with no spacer between the phosphorus atom and the two positively charged groups.

Synthesis, structure and reactivity of cyclopropenyl-1-ylidene stabilized S(II), Se(II) and Te(II) mono- and dications.

The syntheses and structural characterization of carbene-stabilized chalcogen centred mono- and dications employing a reverse electron demand onio-substitutent transfer strategy are reported. The electronic structures of these compounds were determined by density functional calculations and their reactivity towards Pd(0) centres was evaluated.

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of carbene-stabilized phosphorus(III)-centered trications [L3P]3+.

Carbene-stabilized [L(3)P](+3) cations have been synthesized for the first time by a reaction between 1-chloro-2,3-bis(dialkylamino)cyclopropenium salts and P(SiMe(3))(3). In addition, the first structural characterization of such an entity is reported. Consistent with the X-ray data, density functional calculations indicate that these P-centered cations, despite their high positive charge, still feature a nonbonding electron pair on the P-atom (HOMO) and a very low-lying LUMO depicting them as poor σ-donors and excellent π-acceptors.