Dienophilic reactivity of 2-phosphaindolizines: a conceptual DFT investigation

Abstract

The >C=P– or –N=P– functionality in 1,3-azaphospholo[1,5-a]pyridine, named as 2-phosphaindolizine and its 1- and 3-aza derivatives act as dienophiles and undergo Diels–Alder reactions with 1,3-dienes. However, the dienophilic reactivity is affected by the nature of the substituent groups on the two sides of the σ2,λ3-P atom and also by the presence of more nitrogen atom(s) in the five-membered ring. The conceptual density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used in recent years to predict the reactivity of organic molecules in reactions. We calculated global hardness (η), global softness (S), electronic chemical potential (μ), electrophilicity (ω), and nucleophilicity (N) indices of four classes of 2-phosphaindolizines, on the basis of which their observed relative dienophilic reactivities could be rationalized. Besides, the Fukui functions of the carbon/nitrogen and phosphorus atoms of the >C=P– and –N=P– functionalities were also computed which revealed their hard electrophilic character and accorded well with the dienophilic reactivities observed experimentally. Furthermore, energies and symmetries of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO) of 2-phosphaindolizines were found to be in conformity with their dienophilic reactivities.

Organophosphorus chemistry: from model to application

“…Quantum chemical calculations are a great support for organic chemists when exploring structures, reactivities, and mechanisms. In this thematic issue, the Diels–Alder cycloaddition of 2-phosphaindolizine, 1-aza-2-phosphaindolizine, 3-aza-2-phosphaindolizine, and 1,3-diaza-2-phosphaindolizine derivatives, with butadiene has been calculated by Bansal and co-workers using DFT [ 5 ]. Therein, the dienophilic reactivity of the N=P and P=C units of the heterocycles was in accordance with the experimental observations.…”