Development of metal-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of P-stereogenic phosphines has been guided by the hypothesis that pyramidal inversion occurs rapidly in metal–phosphido intermediates, but this process has not been observed directly for all metals of interest. We report an enantioselective copper­(Josiphos)-catalyzed alkylation of secondary phosphines and observation of the reaction intermediates, including variable temperature NMR studies of low-barrier pyramidal inversion at phosphorus in the key P-stereogenic terminal phosphido complexes Cu­(diphos*)­(PRR′), and an investigation of their reversible formation from secondary phosphine–silanolate complexes Cu­(diphos*)­[PHR­(R′)]­(OSiMe3).

Tetrahedral main‐group compounds are normally configurationally stable, but P‐epimerization of the chiral phosphiranium cations syn‐ or anti‐[Mes*P(Me)CH2CHPh][OTf] (Mes*=2,4,6‐(t‐Bu)3C6H2) occurred under mild conditions at 60 °C in CD2Cl2, resulting in isomerization to give a syn‐enriched equilibrium mixture. Ion exchange with excess [NBu4][Δ‐TRISPHAT] (Δ‐TRISPHAT=Δ‐P(o‐C6Cl4O2)3) followed by chromatography on silica removed [NBu4][OTf] and gave mixtures of syn‐ and anti‐[Mes*P(Me)CH2CHPh][Δ‐TRISPHAT]⋅x[NBu4][Δ‐TRISPHAT]. NMR spectroscopy showed that isomerization proceeded with epimerization at P and retention at C. DFT calculations are consistent with a mechanism involving P‐C cleavage to yield a hyperconjugation‐stabilized carbocation, pyramidal inversion promoted by σ‐interaction of the P lone pair with the neighboring β‐carbocation, and ring closure with inversion of configuration at P.

Protonation of cyclopropanes and aziridines is well-studied, but reactions of phosphiranes with acids are rare and have not been reported to result in ring opening. Treatment of syn-Mes*PCH 2 CHR (Mes* = 2,4,6-(t-Bu) 3 C 6 H 2 , R = Me or Ph, syn-1-2) or anti-Mes*PCH 2 CHPh (anti-2) with triflic acid resulted in regiospecific anti-Markovnikov C-protonation with ring opening and cyclophosphination of a Mes* ortho-t-Bu group to yield the phospholanium cations [PH(CH 2Me or Ph, 3−4), which were deprotonated with NEt 3 to give phospholanes 5−6. Enantioenriched or racemic syn-1 both gave racemic 3. The byproduct [Mes*PH(CH 2 CH 2 Me)(OH)][OTf] (7) was formed from syn-1 and HOTf in the presence of water. Density functional theory calculations suggested that P-protonation followed by ring opening and hydride migration to C yields the phosphenium ion, [Mes*P(CH 2 CH 2 Me)][OTf], which undergoes C−H oxidative addition of an o-t-Bu methyl group. This work established a new reactivity pattern for phosphiranes.

Tetrahedral main‐group compounds are normally configurationally stable, but P‐epimerization of the chiral phosphiranium cations syn‐ or anti‐[Mes*P(Me)CH2CHPh][OTf] (Mes*=2,4,6‐(t‐Bu)3C6H2) occurred under mild conditions at 60 °C in CD2Cl2, resulting in isomerization to give a syn‐enriched equilibrium mixture. Ion exchange with excess [NBu4][Δ‐TRISPHAT] (Δ‐TRISPHAT=Δ‐P(o‐C6Cl4O2)3) followed by chromatography on silica removed [NBu4][OTf] and gave mixtures of syn‐ and anti‐[Mes*P(Me)CH2CHPh][Δ‐TRISPHAT]⋅x[NBu4][Δ‐TRISPHAT]. NMR spectroscopy showed that isomerization proceeded with epimerization at P and retention at C. DFT calculations are consistent with a mechanism involving P‐C cleavage to yield a hyperconjugation‐stabilized carbocation, pyramidal inversion promoted by σ‐interaction of the P lone pair with the neighboring β‐carbocation, and ring closure with inversion of configuration at P.