Acid-base free main group carbonyl analogues

Journal article : Review

Main group carbonyl analogues (R2E=O) derived from p-block elements (E=groups 13 to 15) have long been considered as elusive species. Previously, employment of chemical tricks such as acid- and base-stabilization protocols granted access to these transient species in their masked forms. However, electronic and steric effects inevitably perturb their chemical reactivity and distinguish them from classical carbonyl compounds. A new era was marked by the recent isolation of acid–base free main group carbonyl analogues, ranging from a lighter boracarbonyl to the heavier silacarbonyls, phosphacarbonyls and a germacarbonyl. Most importantly, their unperturbed nature elicits exciting new chemistry, spanning the vista from classical organic carbonyl-type reactions to transition metal-like oxide ion transfer chemistry. In this Review, we survey the strategies used for the isolation of such systems and document their emerging reactivity profiles, with a view to providing fundamental comparisons both with carbon and transition metal oxo species. This highlights the emerging opportunities for exciting “crossover” reactivity offered by these derivatives of the p-block elements.

Authors: Loh, YK; Aldridge, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Angewandte Chemie International Edition
• Volume: 60
• Issue: 16
• Pages: 8626-8648
• Publication date: 2020-10-19
• Acceptance date: 2020-07-13
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202008174
• EISSN: 1521-3773
• ISSN: 1433-7851
• Pmid: 32662179
• Language: English
• Keywords: reactivity studies; carbonyl compounds; oxide transfer; main group elements; multiple bonding; FFR
• Subtype: Review