Annellated 1,3,4,2-Triazaphospholenes-Simple Modular Synthesis and a First Exploration of Ligand Properties

Abstract

The successful use of 1,3,4,2-triazaphospholenes (TAPs) as organo-catalysts stresses the need for efficient synthetic routes to these molecules. In this study, we establish the [1 + 4]-cycloaddition of PBr₃ to azo-pyridines as a new approach to preparing pyrido-annellated TAPs in a single step from easily available precursors. The modular assembly of the azo-component via condensation of primary amines and nitroso compounds along with the feasibility of post-functionalization at the P–Br bond under conservation of the heterocyclic structure allows, in principle, to address a wide range of target molecules, which is illustrated by prototypical examples. The successful synthesis of a transition metal complex confirms for the first time the ability of a TAP to act as a P-donor ligand. Crystallographic studies suggest that hyperconjugation effects and intermolecular interactions induce a qualitatively similar ionic polarization of the P–Br bonds in TAPs as in better known isoelectronic diazaphospholenes.

1. Introduction

The 1,3,4,2-triazaphospholenes (TAPs, Scheme 1) are isoelectronic analogues of the better-known 1,3,2-diazaphospholenes (DAPs) [1,2,3] which have gathered some attention as broadly applicable organo-catalysts [4,5,6]. The synthesis of TAPs is traditionally accomplished via the base-induced condensation of amidrazones with PCl₃ (Scheme 1a) [7], and a specimen obtained via this route has likewise been shown to exhibit catalytic activity in the hydroboration of imines and α, β-unsaturated aldehydes [8]. An advantage of using TAPs as (pre)catalysts was claimed to be that the easy assembly of target compounds with unlike N-substituents promises to overcome a drawback of all currently known approaches to DAPs, which do not permit a general synthesis of non-symmetric phosphorus heterocycles containing smaller alkyl groups [5]. The TAP framework can thus be considered a more modular synthetic scaffold. This increased flexibility facilitating, in principle, the tailoring of molecular structures, e.g., for the optimization of a catalytic process, further development of the synthetic chemistry of TAPs would seem highly desirable.

Recently, the range of unsymmetrically substituted TAPs was extended by the synthesis of pyrido-annellated derivatives (2,3-dihydro-[1,2,4,3] triazaphospholo [4,5-a] pyridines) via base-induced condensation of hydrazo-bis-pyridine with PCl₃ or (Et₂N)₂PCl, respectively (Scheme 1b) [9]. Although post-modification via formal exchange of a P-amino-substituent for halides was feasible, the scope of this approach is still limited by the synthesis of target molecules carrying a 2-pyridin-2-yl substituent. Moreover, the one-step preparation of the synthetically valuable P-chloro-derivative is hampered by its low solubility in common organic solvents as well as difficulties in its separation from hydrochloride salts formed as by-products.

We had previously shown that pyrido-annellated DAPs form readily under salt-free conditions via a [4 + 1]-cycloaddition of PI₃ to imino-pyridines (Scheme 1c, E = CH) [10]. Considering that this reaction is just a special case of a more general access route to DAPs via cycloaddition of phosphorus trihalides to diimines [11,12], we anticipated that extending this scheme to azopyridines should furnish a direct and practically viable new route to pyrido-annellated TAPs (Scheme 1c, E = N). Here, we report on the elaboration of this concept into a modular synthesis of TAPs and reveal that P-halogeno-TAPs are amenable to P-alkylation under the retention of the heterocyclic framework. The synthetic procedures described open a new and highly efficient route to the assembly of a wider range of TAPs with non-symmetrical molecular structures. Moreover, a preliminary exploration of the complexation properties of the P-alkylated product resulting in the isolation of a first complex comprising a P-coordinated TAP as ligand should stimulate further studies of the use of these heterocycles in coordination chemistry and catalysis.

2. Results and Discussion

2.1. Synthesis of TAPs

The reactions studied for the assembly of the TAP ring include the [1 + 4]-cycloadditions of both symmetrical (1a) and unsymmetrical (1b–f) azopyridines with PBr₃ and PI₃, respectively (Scheme 2). Most azo-components employed were conveniently prepared from readily available aminopyridines using established protocols to accomplish either the oxidative coupling of two molecules of parent aminopyridine to afford 1a [13], or the condensation of an aminopyridine with an appropriate nitroso-alkane or nitroso-arene [14,15] to furnish 1b–e, respectively. The preparation of 1e was also feasible in an even higher yield through a complementary condensation of nitroso-pyridine with t-butylamine, and 1f was exclusively accessed via this route. The choice of the phosphorus source was stimulated by our previous mechanistic studies on the formation of DAPs via the cycloaddition route [16], which allowed us to establish that reactions of diimines with PBr₃ or PI₃ proceed smoothly to the desired heterocycles while the corresponding reaction with PCl₃ takes a different course.

Actual ring closure reactions of azopyridines with PBr₃ were carried out, by analogy to an established protocol for the synthesis of DAPs [12], using dichloromethane as a solvent and a stoichiometric amount of cyclohexene to scavenge elementary bromine formed as co-product. Standard work-up procedures furnished acceptable to excellent yields (48–97%) of TAPs 2a–f in the form of yellow, moisture-sensitive solids. The identity and purity of all products were established by analytical and spectroscopic data, and in several cases by single-crystal XRD studies (vide infra). Compound 2a had previously been prepared in two steps and lower overall yield from PBr₃ and hydrazobispyridine [9]. The presence of a varying number of alkyl groups rendered 2c–f more soluble in organic solvents than 2a,b as expected.

Analogous reactions of selected azopyridines with PI₃ were—like the corresponding syntheses of DAPs [11]—carried out without an additional halogen-scavenger. While ³¹P NMR spectroscopic reaction monitoring gave evidence that heterocycle formation had occurred as expected, work-up was in this case compromised by the formation of dynamic equilibrium mixtures containing ionic triazaphospholenium triiodides along with P-iodo-TAPs and I₂, as well as a high liability of the products to undergo hydrolysis and further unclear dismutation reactions. Such complications impeding in most cases the isolation of analytically pure products, we found these transformations generally of little synthetic use. A notable exception from this scheme was only the reaction of PI₃ with azobispyridine 1a, which produced a crop of red, crystalline material identified as iodo-TAP 3a (Scheme 2). While the molecular structure of 3a seems at first atypical in view of the fact that analogous cycloadditions of PI₃ with diimines and imino-pyridines yield isolable ionic diazaphospholenium triiodes rather than simple P-iodo DAPs [10,11], the discrepancy is easily rationalized in terms of different Lewis acidities of the cationic triaza- and diazaphospholenium units generated by abstraction of iodide from a P-iodo-TAP or DAP, respectively: the formal replacement of a CH-fragment in a diazaphospholenium ion by an isoelectronic nitrogen atom making the resulting triazaphospholenium ion a stronger Lewis-acid, it also renders release of an iodide from a neutral TAP energetically less favorable than from a DAP, and may thus inhibit triiodide formation by shifting the equilibrium >P–I + I₂ ⇆ >P⁺ I₃^– further to the left side. We presume that the interplay of this effect with different solubilities of the equilibrating species is also well suited to explain the complications encountered during the work-up of reaction mixtures (vide supra).

We want to note that the observed reactivity of 1a towards PBr₃ and PI₃ contrasts its behavior toward PCl₃, which had previously been reported to react under similar conditions to afford no TAP but rather an elusive 1:1 adduct that remained unidentified and was only chemically characterized by its conversion into a mixture of hydrazobispyridine and trimethylphosphate upon methanolysis [9]. Interestingly, we had noted earlier that a similar disparity occurs as well in the reactions of diimines with PCl₃ and its heavier congeners [16]. Computational studies suggested that while the formation of P-halogeno-DAPs via an oxidative addition/reductive elimination sequence ([1 + 4]-cycloaddition of PX₃ to the diimine followed by cleavage of X₂) is in this case in principle feasible for all three phosphorus trihalides, the second step is energetically disfavored when the X₂ molecule released is a strong oxidant. As a result, the formation of DAPs from PX₃ turns from a thermodynamically favored exergonic reaction for X = Br, I into a strongly endergonic process that can no longer compete with alternative reaction channels for X = Cl [16]. Presuming that the assembly of TAPs from azopyridines and PBr₃ or PI₃ occurs likewise via an oxidative addition/reductive elimination pathway and that the reported chemical behavior of the 1:1 adduct of 1a and PCl₃ at the same time agrees well with the presence of a [1 + 4]-cycloaddition product showing no tendency to lose Cl₂, we relate the different reactivities of PCl₃ and its heavier congeners towards azopyridines to the same origin.

2.2. Alkylation and Complexation of a TAP

Anticipating that metathesis reactions at the P-halogen bonds of 2a–f should open a modular route to the decoration of the TAP scaffold with organic substituents, we studied the methylation of 2c as an archetypal example. Reaction monitoring by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy revealed that treatment with an equimolar amount of MeLi resulted in the selective formation of a product that was isolated in an acceptable yield of 55% after distillation and identified by analytical and spectroscopic data as well as a single-crystal XRD study as the expected N-heterocyclic phosphine 4 (Scheme 3). We regard the formation of 4 as confirmation that substitution at the P-halogen functionality of a TAP by organic nucleophiles is in principle feasible without disrupting the heterocyclic framework.

The presence of an electron-releasing P-alkyl substituent further triggered the expectation that the phosphorus atom in 4 might become sufficiently nucleophilic for binding to a transition metal center. Since knowledge of coordination compounds comprising TAP ligands has so far been limited to a single example featuring a 2-pyridyl-substituted molecule acting as κ²N,N′-donor to a hard silicon (IV) center [9], we set out to verify the validity of our hypothesis. Studying the reaction of 4 with bis-cyclooctadiene-nickel(0), we observed formation of two new products later identified as the diastereomeric complexes rac-/meso-5, respectively. A mixture of both diastereomers was isolated by crystallization and the expected presence of a complex containing two κ¹P-bound TAP units confirmed by spectroscopic data and a single-crystal XRD study of the rac-isomer.

2.3. Compound Characterization

The ¹H and ¹³C NMR data of the newly prepared TAPs confirm the expected molecular structures but reveal otherwise no special features. The ³¹P NMR chemical shifts of P-bromo-(2a-f, δ³¹P 135–156 ppm) and P-iodo-derivatives (3a, δ³¹P 173 ppm) are compatible with the presence of N₂X-substituted phosphine derivatives but are consistently smaller than those of DAPs (δ³¹P 194–185 ppm for P–Br- and 205–190 ppm for P–I-derivatives [1]). Considering that the high ³¹P chemical shifts of P-halogeno-DAPs seem to be intimately connected with an exceptional ionic polarization and a lengthening of the P–X bonds (X = Cl, Br, I) which led to their depiction as dative donor/acceptor interactions [2,3], the values of δ³¹P for 2a–f indicate that the P–X-bonds are again closer to a ‘normal’ covalent interaction. This trend is in line with the perception of the cationic triazaphospholenium unit being a stronger Lewis acid than a nitrogen-poorer diazaphospholenium cation.

The single-crystal XRD studies revealed that crystals of all P–Br/I-substituted TAPs studied comprise clearly identifiable molecular units (see Figure 1). The carbon and nitrogen atoms in the fused heterocycles are generally arranged in a common plane. The phosphorus atoms in 2c,e,f, and 3a are slightly (by 0.13–0.23 Å) dislocated out of this plane, and the five-membered rings adopt thus a flat envelope conformation in which the P–Br bond assumes the flagpole position. In the case of 2d, the phosphorus atom is located in the same plane as the carbon and nitrogen atoms, and the five-membered ring is planar. The six-membered rings stay planar in all compounds. Each phosphorus atom in 2a–f further exhibits a single intermolecular contact with the bromine atom of a neighboring molecule, which is for 2c–e below the sum of van-der-Waals radii (3.76 Å [17]). These Br^⋯P interactions connect individual molecules to supramolecular aggregates in the form of one-dimensional infinite stacks (2c,e) or discrete dimeric units (2d,f), respectively (Figure 1).

The perimeters of the fused ring systems in all bromo/iodo-TAPs are characterized by an alternating sequence of shorter and longer bonds with partly averaged distances (compared to isolated single and double bonds [18]) that is typical for conjugated π-systems in general and occurs likewise in pyrido-annellated DAPs [10]. The P–X distances in 2c–f (

Table 1. Selected intramolecular distances (in Å) for 2c–f, 3a, 4, 5.

	X	R2	R5	P–X 1	P–N	N–N
2c	Br	t-Bu	H	2.6837 (6)	1.649 (2) 1.692 (2)	1.385 (2)
2d	Br	t-Bu	Me	2.8950 (16)	1.665 (5) 1.697 (5)	1.364 (6)
2e	Br	t-Bu	t-Bu	2.5683 (6)	1.659 (2) 1.696 (2)	1.394 (2)
2f	Br	Dipp	H	2.4695 (12)/ 2.516 (6) 2	1.6611 (13) 1.7031 (14)	1.397 (2)
3a3	I	Py	H	2.822 (2) 2.834 (3)	1.672 (10) 1.707 (10) 1.681 (10) 1.694 (9)	1.397 (12) 1.362 (12)
4	Me	t-Bu	H	1.845 (2)	1.702 (2) 1.739 (2)	1.429 (2)
54	Me	t-Bu	H	1.848 (2) 1.839 (2)	1.746 (2) 1.727 (2) 1.739 (2) 1.754 (2)	1.425 (2) 1.428 (2)

¹ Additional intermolecular distances: P–Br 3.7229 (7) (2c), 3.6133 (16) (2d), 3.8782 (6) (2e), 4.2562 (15) (2f). ² Values refer to two disordered sites of the Br atom with occupancies of 0.78 (2):0.22 (2). ³ Values for two crystallographically independent molecules. ⁴ Ni–P 2.1440 (5), 2.1554 (6) Å.

) are shorter than in DAPs (P–Br 2.62–2.94 Å, P–I 3.43 Å [2]), but certainly exceed standard values (P–Br 2.39 Å, P–I 2.58 Å [19]) and display a comparable variability as in the nitrogen-poorer congeners. Remarkably, the trend in P–Br distances for 2c–f bears no obvious relation with intramolecular substituent effects but shows a striking correlation with the aforementioned intermolecular P⋯Br contacts (Figure 2).

The observed structural trends suggest that the P–X bond lengthening in P-halogeno-TAPs arises like in the DAP system from a combination of intra- and intermolecular effects [2]. The former can be pictured as the familiar n(N)–σ*(P–X) hyperconjugation [1,2,3], which tends to increase covalent P–N bond orders relative to standard single bonds and enables π-delocalization in the annellated rings at the expense of a reduced covalency of the exocyclic P–X (X = Br, I) bonds. Intermolecular effects may be associated with weak P⋯X donor/acceptor interactions between adjacent molecules [20]. Judging by the resulting P–X distances, we may assume that, in line with the conclusions drawn from the interpretation of NMR data, the overall ionic polarization of the P–X bonds reflecting the impact of both influences is in the annellated TAPs smaller than in isoelectronic DAPs.

The annellated ring system in 4 (Figure 3, left) shows a similar disposition as in 2c,e,f, and 3a, but the folding of the five-membered ring is still more pronounced. The P–N distances are longer and may be described as normal single bonds, and a perceptible lengthening of the N–N-bond (see Table 1) epitomizes that the equalization between formal single and double bonds induced by π-delocalization effects in the remaining perimeter of the annellated rings is reduced. The local environment around the phosphorus atom seems archetypal for a trivalent phosphine and is not significantly perturbed by hyperconjugation or ionic bond polarization effects.

The geometrical features do not change significantly upon coordination of ligand 4 to a nickel center in 5 (Figure 3, right). The P–Ni distances range close to the lower end of typical values in nickel phosphine complexes (2.186 ± 0.052 Å [21]) and may be seen as an indication of rather strong metal-ligand bonding. It should be noted that the achiral crystal (point group P-1) contains exclusively the enantiomers [(R-4)₂Ni(COD)] and [(S-4)₂Ni(COD)] of a homochiral complex (rac-5), while the bulk sample is a 1:1 mixture of rac-5 and its heterochiral diastereomer [(R-4)(S-4)Ni(COD)] (meso-5). This finding points to the existence of a second crystalline phase containing the other diastereomer of 5, which so far evaded crystallographic characterization.

3. Materials and Methods

All manipulations were carried out under an atmosphere of inert argon inside glove boxes or by using standard vacuum line techniques. Solvents were dried by literature known procedures [22] and distilled before use. NMR spectra were recorded on Bruker Avance 250 (¹H 250.0 MHz, ¹³C 62.9 MHz, ³¹P 101.2 MHz) or Avance 400 (¹H 400.1 MHz, ¹³C 100.5 MHz, ³¹P 161.9 MHz) instruments at 293 K if not stated otherwise. ¹H Chemical shifts were referenced to TMS using the signals of the residual protons of the deuterated solvent (δ¹H = 7.15 (C₆D₆), 1.73 (THF-D₈)) as secondary reference. Atoms in pyridine rings were denoted as H-6, 6-C etc. Spectra of heteronuclei were referenced using the Ξ-scale [23] employing TMS (Ξ = 25.145020 MHz, ¹³C) and 85 % H₃PO₄ (Ξ = 40.480747 MHz, ³¹P) as secondary references. Elemental analyses were determined on a Thermo Micro Cube CHN analyzer. Previously known azopyridines were prepared as reported [9,14] (data for 1b: yield 58%; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 2.39 (br s, 3 H, CH₃), 7.15 (dq, ³J_HH = 4.9 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 0.8 Hz, 1 H, H-5), 7.42–7.50 (m, 3 H, m/p-Ph), 7.57 (m, 1 H, H-3), 7.95 (m, 2 H, o-Ph), 8.53 (d, ³J_HH = 4.9 Hz, 1 H, H-6). –¹³C{¹H}-NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 21.5 (CH₃), 116.5 (C-3), 123.9 (o-Ph), 126.5 (C-5), 129.5 (m-Ph), 132.4 (p-Ph), 149.6 (C-6), 150.6 (C-4), 152.9 (i-Ph), 163.4 (C-2). Chromatography was carried out using silica as stationary phase.

2-t-butylazo-pyridine (1c): Method A: A round-bottom Schlenk flask was charged with 2-aminopyridine (4.50 g, 47.8 mmol), lithium (331 mg, 47.8 mmol), excess t-BuNO (12.5 g, 143 mmol), and Et₂O (50 mL). The mixture was stirred for 3 d in the dark. Evaporation of volatiles and purification of the resulting crude product by flash chromatography yielded 1c (4.24 g, 26.0 mmol, 54%) as a yellow oil. Method B: A solution of 2-nitrosopyridine (1.00 g, 9.25 mmol) and t-butylamine (1.09 mL, 765 mg, 10.5 mmol) in degassed methylene chloride (40 mL) was stirred for 24 h in the dark. Evaporation of volatiles from the resulting yellow solution and flash chromatography (eluent petroleum ether/ethyl acetate 9:1) of the residue afforded 1c as a yellow oil (1.28 g, 7.84 mmol, 85%). The products obtained by either method were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and used as is for further reactions. –¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 1.33 (s, 9 H, t-Bu), 7.29 (ddd, ³J_HH = 7.4 Hz, 4.8 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.1 Hz, 1 H, H-5), 7.43 (ddd, ³J_HH = 8.0 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.1 Hz, 1 H, H-3), 7.77 (ddd, ³J_HH = 8.0 Hz, 7.4 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.9 Hz, 1 H, H-4), 8.59 (ddd, ³J_HH = 4.8 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.9 Hz, ⁵J_HH = 1.1 Hz, 1 H, H-6). –¹³C{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 26.9 (CH₃), 69.0 (NC), 114.2 (3-C), 124.7 (5-C), 138.4 (4-C), 149.2 (6-C), 162.8 (2-C).

2-(t-butylazo)-4-methylpyridine (1d): A suspension of LDA (1.87 g, 17.5 mmol) in Et₂O (30 mL) was added slowly to a cooled (0 °C) solution of 4-methyl-2-aminopyridine (1.72 g, 15.9 mmol) in Et₂O (20 mL). The mixture was warmed to rt, and t-BuNO (3.44 mL, 3.16 g, 36.3 mmol) was added. After 3 d, the reaction mixture was quenched with water (50 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with water, and dried with brine and then MgSO₄. Evaporation of volatiles and purification of the residue by column chromatography (eluent PE/ethyl acetate 1:1) afforded 1d as a yellow oil (422 mg, 2.38 mmol, 15%) that was used as is for further reactions. –¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 1.33 (s, 9 H, t-Bu), 2.36 (s, 3 H, CH₃), 7.10 (dq, ³J_HH = 5.0 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 0.8 Hz, 1 H, H-5), 7.23 (m, 1 H, H-3), 8.43 (d, ³J_HH = 5.0 Hz, 1 H, H-6). –¹³C{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 20.1 (CH₃), 25.8 (CCH₃), 67.8 (CCH₃), 113.6 (3-C), 124.6 (5-C), 147.8 (4-C), 148.8 (6-C), 161.9 (2-C).

4-(t-butyl)-2-(t-butylazo)pyridine (1e): A round-bottom Schlenk flask was charged with 4-t-butyl-aminopyridine (3.50 g, 23.3 mmol), Na (535 mg, 23.3 mmol), t-BuNO (5.46 g, 62.7 mmol) and Et₂O (ca. 80 mL). The mixture was stirred for 5 d. Water (50 mL) was slowly added. The organic layer of the resulting biphasic system was separated, washed with water, and dried with brine and then MgSO₄. Evaporation of volatiles and purification of the residue by column chromatography (eluent PE/ethyl acetate 5:1) afforded 1e as a yellow oil (4.22 g, 19.2 mmol, 82%) that was used as is. –¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 1.34 (s, 9 H, t-Bu), 1.39 (s, 9 H, t-Bu), 7.31 (dd, ³J_HH = 5.3 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.8 Hz, 1 H, H-5), 7.47 (d, ⁴J_HH = 1.8 Hz, 1 H, H-3), 8.52 (d, ³J_HH = 5.3 Hz, 1 H, H-6). –¹³C{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 27.3 (CCH₃), 30.9 (CCH₃), 35.5 (CCH₃), 69.2 (NCCH₃), 112.3 (3-C), 122.2 (5-C), 149.4 (6-C), 163.3 (2-C or 4-C), 163.5 (2-C or 4-C).

2-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)azo-pyridine (1f): Nitrosopyridine (2.50 g, 23.1 mmol) and diisopropylaniline (4.10 g, 23.1 mmol) were dissolved in methylene chloride. A few drops of degassed acetic acid were added, and the reaction mixture was stirred in the dark for 3 d. Solvent and catalyst were removed under reduced pressure and the residue was purified by column chromatography to give a red oil (yield 1.11 g, 4.16 mmol, 18%) that was characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and used as is for further syntheses. The ¹H NMR spectrum displayed additional signals, which were assigned to a second stereoisomer (presumably rotamer or Z-isomer, approx. 17%). –¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 1.12 (d, ³J_HH = 6.9 Hz, 12 H, CH₃), 3.09 (sept, ³J_HH = 6.9 Hz, 2 H, CH), 7.16 –7.28 (m, 3 H, CH_Dipp), 7.38 (ddd, ³J_HH = 7.5 Hz, 4.8 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.2 Hz, 1 H, H-5), 7.68 (d, ³J_HH = 7.6 Hz, 1 H, H-3), 7.87 (ddd, ³J_HH = 7.5 Hz, 7.6 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 2.0 Hz, 1 H, H-4), 8.70 (ddd, ³J_HH = 4.8 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 2.0 Hz, ⁵J_HH = 0.8 Hz, 1 H, H-6).

3-bromo-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-2,3-dihydro-[1,2,4,3]triazaphospholo[4,5-a]pyridine (2a): A round-bottom Schlenk flask was charged with azopyridine 1a (500 mg, 2.71 mmol) and methylene chloride (30 mL). Cyclohexene (668 mg, 8.13 mmol) and PBr₃ (807 mg, 2.98 mmol) were subsequently added slowly, and the resulting mixture was stirred for 12 h. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure. The residue was washed with pentane (20 mL) to furnish 2a (714 mg, 2.42 mmol, 89%) as a yellowish powder whose low solubility in organic solvents precluded its characterization by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. –¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 6.43 (t, ³J_HH = 5.9 Hz, 1 H), 6.94–7.16 (m, 3 H), 7.56 –7.83 (m, 3 H), 8.41 (d, ³J_HH = 4.6 Hz, 1 H). –³¹P{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 135.0 (s). C₁₀H₈BrN₄P (295.08 g/mol), calcd. C 40.70 H 2.73 N 18.99, found C 39.93 H 2.73 N 18.53.

3-bromo-7-methyl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-[1,2,4,3]triazaphospholo[4,5-a]pyridine (2b): The reaction of azopyridine 1b (893 mg, 4.53 mmol), cyclohexene (1.12 g, 13.6 mmol) and PBr₃ (1.35 g, 4.98 mmol) was carried out as described for 2a to yield 2b (1.27 g, 4.12 mmol, 91%) as a yellowish solid. –¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 2.28 (s, 3 H, CH₃), 6.36 (dd, ³J_HH = 7.2 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.4 Hz, 1 H, H-6), 6.95 (m, 1 H, H-8), 7.26 (m, 1 H, p-Ph), 7.44 (m, 2 H, o-Ph), 7.64–7.69 (m, 3 H, m-Ph and H-5). –¹³C{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 22.1 (d, ⁵J_PC = 0.9 Hz, CH₃), 113.4 (d, ³J_PC = 0.7 Hz, 8-C), 115.5 (d, ³J_PC = 12.6 Hz, 6-C), 120.2 (d, ³J_PC = 14.8 Hz, o-Ph), 126.4 (d, ⁵J_PC = 3.1 Hz, p-Ph), 128.4 (d, ²J_PC = 14.8 Hz, 5-C), 130.0 (d, ³J_PC = 0.6 Hz, m-Ph), 141.4 (d, ²J_PC = 9.0 Hz, i-Ph), 143.1 (d, ⁴J_PC = 4.3 Hz, 7-C), 150.0 (d, ²J_PC = 11.5 Hz, 9-C). –³¹P{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 138.6 (s). –C₁₂H₁₁BrN₃P (308.12 g/mol): calcd. C 46.78 H 3.60 N 13.64, found C 47.10 H 3.66 N 14.45.

3-bromo-2-(t-butyl)-2,3-dihydro-[1,2,4,3]triazaphospholo[4,5-a]pyridine (2c): The reaction of azopyridine 1c (240 mg, 1.47 mmol), cyclohexene (362 mg, 4.41 mmol, 3 equivs.) and PBr₃ (439 mg, 1.62 mmol) in methylene chloride (20 mL) were carried out as described for 2a yielding 2c (344 mg, 1.26 mmol, 86%) as a yellow solid. –¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 1.68 (d, ⁴J_PH = 1.9 Hz, 9 H, t-Bu), 6.58 (td, ³J = 6.7 Hz, ⁴J = 0.9 Hz, 1 H, H-2), 7.10 (m, 1 H, H-3), 7.24 (m, 1 H, H-4), 7.89 (m, 1 H, H-1). –¹³C{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 29.1 (d, ³J_PC = 12.0 Hz, CCH₃), 60.8 (d, ²J_PC = 5.1 Hz, NCCH₃), 112.4 (d, ²J_PC = 12.1 Hz, 2-C), 116.4 (s, 4-C), 129.4 (d, ²J_PC = 14.0 Hz, 1-C), 131.1 (d, ⁴J_PC = 3.5 Hz, 3-C), 149.5 (d, ²J_PC = 9.8 Hz, 5-C). –³¹P{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 154.9 (s). C₉H₁₃BrN₃P (274.10 g/mol): calcd. C 39.44 H 4.78 N 15.33, found C 38.49 H 4.81 N 14.70.

3-bromo-2-(t-butyl)-7-methyl-2,3-dihydro-[1,2,4,3]triazaphospholo[4,5-a]pyridine (2d): The reaction of azopyridine 1d (240 mg, 1.35 mmol), cyclohexene (343 mg, 4.06 mmol) and PBr₃ (402 mg, 1.49 mmol) in methylene chloride (20 mL) and the purification of the crude product was carried out as described for 2a yielding 2d (319 mg, 1.11 mmol, 82%) as a yellow solid. –¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 1.67 (d, ⁴J_PH = 1.8 Hz, 9 H, t-Bu), 2.27 (s, 3 H, CH₃), 6.45 (dd, ³J_HH = 7.2 Hz, ⁴J_PH = 1.3 Hz, 1 H, H-6), 7.05 (s, 1 H, H-8), 7.81 (dd, ³J_HH = 7.2 Hz, ³J_PH = 4.1 Hz, 1 H, H-5). –13C{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 22.0 (CH₃), 29.4 (d, ³J_PC = 12.0 Hz, CCH₃), 61.1 (d, ²J_PC = 5.0 Hz, NCCH₃), 113.9 (s, 8-C), 116.2 (d, ³J_PC = 11.9 Hz, 6-C), 129.0 (d, ²J_PC = 14.1 Hz, 5-C), 143.3 (br, 7-C), 150.5 (²J_PC = 10.0 Hz, 9-C). –³¹P{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 154.6 (s). –C₁₀H₁₅BrN₃P (288.13 g/mol): calcd. C 41.69 H 5.25 N 14.58, found C 38.86 H 4.94, N 13.07.

3-Bromo-2,7-di-t-butyl-2,3-dihydro-[1,2,4,3]triazaphospholo[4,5-a]pyridine (2e): The reaction of 1e (3.50 g, 16.0 mmol), cyclohexene (3.94 g, 48.0 mmol) and PBr₃ (4.76 g, 17.6 mmol) in methylene chloride (100 mL) and the purification of the crude product was carried out as described for 2a yielding 2e (4.14 g, 12.5 mmol, 78%) as a yellow solid. –¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 1.26 (s, 9 H, 7-t-Bu), 1.67 (d, ⁴J_PH = 1.3 Hz, 9 H, 2-t-Bu), 6.65 (dd, ³J_HH = 7.5 Hz, ⁴J_PH = 1.7 Hz, 1 H, H-6), 7.13 (br s, 1 H, H-8), 7.86 (ddd, ³J_HH = 7.5 Hz, ³J_PH = 4.0 Hz, ⁵J_HH = 0.7 Hz, 1 H, H-5). –13C{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 29.1 (d, ³J_PC = 12.1 Hz, NCCH₃), 29.5 (s, CCH₃), 35.2 (s, CCH₃), 60.8 (d, ²J_PC = 5.0 Hz, NCCH₃), 110.0 (s, 6-C), 112.6 (d, ³J_PC = 11.8 Hz, 8-C), 128.6 (d, ²J_PC = 13.5 Hz, 5-C), 150.6 (d, ²J_PC = 10.0 Hz, 9-C), 155.0 (d, ⁴J_PC = 3.5 Hz, 7-C). –³¹P{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 156.4. –C₁₃H₂₁BrN₃P (330.21 g/mol): calcd. C 47.29 H 6.41 N 12.73, found C 46.88 H 6.46 N 12.66.

3-Bromo-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2,3-dihydro-[1,2,4,3]triazaphospholo[4,5-a]py ridine (2f): The reaction of 1e (780 mg, 2.92 mmol), cyclohexene (720 mg, 8.76 mmol,) and PBr₃ (869 mg, 3.21 mmol) in methylene chloride (30 mL) was carried out as described for 2a yielding 2f (530 mg, 1.40 mmol, 48%) as a brownish solid. –¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 1.18 (d, ³J_HH = 6.8 Hz, 6 H, CH₃), 1.26 (d, ³J_HH = 6.8 Hz, 6 H, CH₃), 2.94 (sept, ³J_HH = 6.8 Hz, 2 H, CH), 6.63 (dddd, ³J_HH = 7.2, 6.4 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.2 Hz, ⁴J_PH = 0.6 Hz, 1 H, H-6), 7.15 (dddd, ³J_HH = 9.5, 6.4 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.3 Hz, ⁵J_PH = 1.3 Hz, 1 H, H-7), 7.24 (dddd, ³J_HH = 9.5 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.3 Hz, ⁵J_HH = 1.2 Hz, ⁶J_PH = 2.8 Hz, 1 H, H-8), 7.28 (dd, ³J_HH = 7.7 Hz, ⁵J_PH = 0.5 Hz, 2 H, CH), 7.94 (dddd, ³J_HH = 7.2 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.3 Hz, ⁵J_HH = 1.3 Hz, ³J_PH = 4.7 Hz, 1H, H-5). –13C{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 24.5 (d, ⁵J_PC = 1.9 Hz, CH₃), 24.8 (s, CH₃), 28.7 (CH), 112.0 (d, ³J_PC = 12.1 Hz, 7-C), 116.0 (8-C), 124.3 (d, ⁴J_PC = 1.2 Hz, m-Ph), 129.8 (d, ²J_PC = 12.1 Hz, 5-C), 130.2 (d, ⁵J_PC = 1.9 Hz, p-Ph), 131.4 (d, ⁴J_PC = 3.8 Hz, 7-C), 133.3 (d, ³J_PC = 7.1 Hz, i-Ph), 147.5 (d, ²J_PC = 6.4 Hz, o-Ph), 149.0 (d, ²J_PC = 12.1 Hz, 9-C). –³¹P{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 150.5. –C₁₇H₂₁BrN₃P (378.25 g/mol): calcd. C 53.98 H 5.60 N 11.11, found C 53.27 H 5.81 N 10.80.

3-Iodo-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-2,3-dihydro-[1,2,4,3]triazaphospholo[4,5-a]pyridine (3a): A solution of PI₃ (658 mg, 1.60 mmol) in methylene chloride (17 mL) was added dropwise to a solution of 1a (300 mg, 1.63 mmol) in methylene chloride (10 mL). The mixture was stirred for 12 h. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure and the red residue was washed with pentane. Recrystallization from pyridine furnished 3a as red crystals (224 mg, 656 μmol, 41%). –¹H NMR (THF-d₈): δ = 6.68 (t, ³J_HH = 6.5 Hz, 1 H, H-7), 7.11–7.23 (m, 2 H, H-8 and m-H), 7.73 (d, ³J_HH = 8.0 Hz, 1 H, m-H), 7.86 (t, ³J_HH = 8.0 Hz, 1 H, p-H), 7.95–8.04 (m, 1 H, H-6), 8.44 (d, ³J_HH = 4.8 Hz, 1 H, o-H), 8.92 (d, ³J_HH = 5.3 Hz, 1 H, H-5). –³¹P{¹H} NMR (THF-d₈): δ = 161.6 (s). –C₁₀H₈IN₄P (342.08 g/mol): calcd. C 35.11 H 2.39 N 16.38, found C 35.26 H 2.57 N 15.99.

2-(t-butyl)-3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-[1,2,4,3]triazaphospholo[4,5-a]pyridine (4): A 1.6 M solution of MeLi in Et₂O (1.37 mL, 2.19 mmol) was slowly added at -78 °C to a solution of 2c (600 mg, 2.19 mmol) in THF (25 mL). After the addition was complete, the solution was allowed to ambient temperature. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure and the residue was distilled under vacuum (bp. 54 °C, 10⁻³ mbar) to afford a dark yellow, highly air-sensitive oil that eventually solidified upon standing (yield 250 mg, 1.19 mmol, 54%). –¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 0.88 (d, ²J_PH = 7.2 Hz, 3 H, CH₃), 1.30 (d, ⁴J_PH = 1.0 Hz, 9 H, t-Bu), 5.66 (dddd, ³J_HH = 7.2, 5.7 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 0.4 Hz, ⁴J_PH = 2.1 Hz, 1 H, H-6), 6.50 (dddd, ³J_HH = 9.8, ⁴J_HH = 1.3 Hz, ⁵J_HH = 0.4 Hz, ⁶J_PH = 1.0 Hz, 1 H, H-7), 6.54 (dddd, ³J_HH = 9.8, 5.7 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.3 Hz, ⁵J_PH = 0.3 Hz, 1 H, H-8), 6.98 (dddd, ³J_HH = 7.2 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 2.1 Hz, ⁵J_HH = 1.3 Hz, ³J_PH = 4.6 Hz, 1H, H-5). –13C{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 20.7 (d, ¹J_PC = 37.7 Hz, CH₃), 29.6 (d, ³J_PC = 9.8 Hz, CCH₃), 56.0 (s, NCCH₃), 105.4 (d, ³J_PC = 6.5 Hz. 6-C), 114.3 (s, 8-C), 131.0 (d, ⁴J_PC = 1.5 Hz, 7-C), 131.3 (s, 5-C), 149.0 (s, 9-C). –³¹P{¹H} NMR (CDCl₃): δ = 88.4 (s). –C₁₀H₁₆PN₃ (209.23 g/mol): calcd. C 57.40 H 7.71 N 20.08, found C 58.12 H 8.22 N 20.22.

Bis-{2-(t-butyl)-3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-[1,2,4,3]triazaphospholo[4,5-a]pyridine}-{1,5-cyclooctadiene}-nickel(0) (5): Addition of a solution of 4 (76 mg, 0.363 mmol) in THF (10 mL) to a solution of Ni(COD)₂ (50 mg, 0.182 mmol) in THF (7 mL) immediately produced a deep red solution. After stirring for an additional 2 h, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure, the residue suspended in hexane, and filtrated over celite. Storage of the filtrate at −28 °C for 1 week produced a crystalline material identified as a diastereomeric mixture of rac- and meso-5 (yield 62 mg, 0.106 mmol, 58%). Manual selection furnished a crystal of rac-5 suitable for a single-crystal XRD study. –¹H NMR (C₆D₆): major diasteromer (80%): δ = 1.30 (s, 6 H_, CH₃), 1.49 (s, 18 H, t-Bu), 1.95 (m, 2 H, CH₂), 2.13 (m, 2 H, CH₂), 2.29 (m, 2 H, CH₂), 2.43 (m, 2 H, CH₂), 4.50 (m, 4 H, =CH), 5.22 (t, ³J_HH = 6.4 Hz, 2 H, H-7), 5.92 (ddd, 2 H, ³J_HH = 9.7, 6.2 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.0 Hz, H-6), 6.27 (d, 1 H, ³J_HH = 9.6 Hz, H-8), 6.60 (br m, 1 H, H-5); minor diastereomer: δ = 1.36 (s, 6 H_, CH₃), 1.43 (s, 18 H, t-Bu), 2.15 (m, 4 H, CH₂), 2.29 (m, 4 H, CH₂), 4.37 (m, 2 H, =CH), 4.67 (m, 2 H, =CH), 5.24 (t, ³J_HH = 6.4 Hz, 2 H, H-7), 5.97 (ddd, 2 H, ³J_HH = 9.7, 6.2 Hz, ⁴J_HH = 1.0 Hz, H-6), 6.29 (d, 1 H, ³J_HH = 9.6 Hz, H-8), 6.78 (br m, 1 H, H-5). –13C{¹H} NMR (C₆D₆): major diastereomer: δ = 23.3 (m, CH₃), 29.3 (m, CH₂), 31.0 (CCH₃), 32.9 (m, CH₂), 56.6 (NCCH₃), 88.2 (br, =CH), 89.0 (br, =CH), 105.1 (m, 7-C), 116.4 (8-C), 129.0 (s, 6-C), 130.5 (m, 5-C), 145.2 (9-C); minor diastereomer: δ = 23.9 (m, CH₃), 30.8 (m, CH₂), 31.0 (m, CCH₃), 29.3 (m, CH₂), 31.0 (m, CCH₃), 56.9 (NCCH₃), 87.4 (br, =CH), 87.9 (br, =CH), 104.9 (m, 7-C), 116.39 (8-C), 129.2 (s, 6-C), 131.1 (m, 5-C), 145.4 (9-C). –³¹P{¹H} NMR (C₆D₆): δ = 131.0 (major diastereomer, 80%), 132.3 (minor diastereomer, 20%).

Crystallographic Studies. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data were measured on a Bruker Kappa APEX2 Duo diffractometer at 135(2) K for 3a and 2f, 140(2) K for 2c-e, and 145(2) K for 4 and 5, respectively, using Cu-Kα radiation ($\mathsf{\lambda }$ = 1.54178 Å) for 5 and Mo-${\mathrm{K}}_{\mathsf{\alpha }}$ radiation ($\mathsf{\lambda }$ = 0.71073 Å) for the remaining compounds. The structures were solved by direct methods (SHELXS-2014 [24]) or dual space/intrinsic methods (SHELXT [25]) and refined with a full-matrix-least-squares scheme on F² (SHELXL-2014 [24]). Semi-empirical absorption corrections from equivalents were applied for 2c–f and 4, and numerical absorption corrections for 3a, 5. Nonhydrogen atoms were refined anisotropically. The Br-atom of 2f was disordered over two positions and was refined using restraints, and 2d was refined as a 2-component twin, BASF = 0.251 (5). Further crystallographic data and details on the structure solution are given in the Supplementary Material. CCDC 2183389 (3a), 2183390 (2f), 2183391 (2c), 2183392 (2e), 2183393 (2d), 2183394 (4), and 2183395 (5) contain the crystallographic data for this paper, which can be obtained free of charge from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre via www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/data_request/cif (accessed on 13 July 2022).

4. Conclusions

The cycloaddition of PBr₃ with azopyridines, which are easily available from the condensation of appropriate primary amine- and nitroso-components, provides a modular synthetic pathway to tailored pyridine-annellated 1,3,4,2-triazaphospholenes. Using PI₃ as a phosphorus source is also feasible, but in most cases synthetically less convenient due to tedious work-up procedures. Post-functionalization of the P–Br bond in a cycloaddition product is demonstrated by the exemplary synthesis of a P-alkylated triazaphospholene, which is further shown to be capable of acting as a P-donor ligand toward a transition metal center. Even if this ligand was to date only obtained in racemic form, its annellated triazaphospholene framework makes a new structural motif for the design of chiral phosphines. Crystallographic studies indicate that the isoelectronic relation of annellated P-bromo-triazaphospholenes with the better-known diazaphospholenes is reflected in a similar, albeit somewhat less pronounced, ionic polarization of the P–Br bond.