We report a straight-forward, solvent-free moderate temperature synthetic method for the production of several phosphorus-rich transition-metal phosphides (orthorhombic FeP2, cubic CoP3, cubic NiP2, monoclinic CuP2, and monoclinic PdP2). Notably, this synthetic approach provides facile access to the high-temperature/high-pressure cubic phase of NiP2. The general synthetic strategy involves the direct reaction of anhydrous metal dichloride pressed pellets with molecular P4 vapor or solid−solid reactions between the metal dichloride and red phosphorus that are intimately mixed into pellets. Both of these reaction strategies involve the evolution of a volatile PCl3 byproduct and produce crystalline MP x (x ≥ 2) at moderate temperatures of 500−700 °C. The pellets remain intact throughout the synthesis, and the macrostructure of the MP x products resembles that of the reactant pellets. By varying the phosphorus source, the percentage of the pellet precursor mass that is retained in the final metal phosphide pellet products changes, which influences the morphology and microstructure of the final phosphide pellet.

Solvothermal reactions between a metal chloride (CoCl2, NiCl2, and CuCl2) and dissolved yellow phosphorus in superheated toluene (275 °C) yield nano- or submicrometer sized particles of amorphous metal phosphides that, upon modest annealing (350–500 °C), crystallize to phosphorus-rich metal phosphides CoP3, NiP2, and CuP2.

Two new Zn(II) complexes have been prepared and evaluated for their capacity to activate and reduce CO2. The electrochemical properties of dichlorobis[diphenyl-(2-pyridyl)phosphine-κ(1)-N]zinc(II) [corrected]. and dichloro[diphenyl-(2-pyridyl)phosphine-κ(1)-N]zinc(II) 2 are compared using cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical results indicate that 2 leads to a facilitated CO2 reduction to evolve CO at a glassy carbon electrode.

Bis(di-i-propylphosphino)amine 1 reacts with B(C6F5)3 to form an adduct with concomitant N/P H-isomerization. This species reacts smoothly with carbon dioxide. An attempt to prepare an anionic derivative resulted in the formation of a novel heterocycle derived from the PNP ligand and B(C6F5)3.