A novel
method for the one-pot synthesis of diannulated 1,4,2-diazaphospholium
triflate salts by a Me3SiOTf-mediated self-condensation
of dichlorophosphaneyl aza-(poly)cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (aza-(P)AHs;
namely, pyridine, quinoline, phenanthridine, and benzo[d]thiazole) is reported. The diannulated 1,4,2-diazaphospholium triflate
salts are characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, X-ray analysis,
as well as their calculated NICS values, underlining their aromatic
character. Quantum mechanical calculations shed light on the intermolecular
reaction mechanism. Follow up chemistry, such as the halogenation
reaction with XeF2 or SO2Cl2 with
the dipyridinium derivative selectively yields the respective dihalo-σ4,λ5- and tetrahalo-σ5,λ6-diazaphospholium triflate salts. The dihalo-σ4,λ5-diazaphospholium triflate salt serves well as
a surrogate for the introduction of the cationic 2-(1,2′-bipyridin)-1-iumyl
ligand (1,2′-bipyl), the monocationic structural isomer of
the prototypical 2,2′-bipyridine ligand (2,2′-bipy).