Geminal phosphorus/aluminum-based frustrated lewis pairs: C−H versus C≡C activation and CO2 fixation.

Geminal phosphorus/aluminum-based frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) are easily obtained by hydroalumination of alkynylphosphines. These FLPs can activate terminal acetylenes by two competitive pathways, which were analyzed by DFT calculations, and they can bind carbon dioxide reversibly. Therefore, alongside polyfluorinated boranes, alanes are also ideal Lewis acids for FLP chemistry. NOTE: The work described in this chapter results from a collaboration with the group of Prof. Werner Uhl (University of Münster). All the experimental work described herein, which was the basis for the computational analysis, was performed in Münster by PhD student Christian Appelt and will be reported in his PhD thesis. The computational work was entirely performed by the author of this thesis. Published in: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 3925–3928.