Selective Air Oxidation of Bis- and Trisphosphines Adsorbed on Activated Carbon Surfaces

Bis- and trisphosphines incorporating methylene and aryl spacers readily adsorb on the surface of porous activated carbon (AC). The adsorption can be performed in the absence of solvents, even when the phosphines have high melting points, or from solutions. The diverse phosphines Ph<sub>2</...

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Main Authors: Ehsan Shakeri, John C. Hoefler, Janet Blümel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/13/2737
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author Ehsan Shakeri
John C. Hoefler
Janet Blümel
author_facet Ehsan Shakeri
John C. Hoefler
Janet Blümel
author_sort Ehsan Shakeri
collection DOAJ
description Bis- and trisphosphines incorporating methylene and aryl spacers readily adsorb on the surface of porous activated carbon (AC). The adsorption can be performed in the absence of solvents, even when the phosphines have high melting points, or from solutions. The diverse phosphines Ph<sub>2</sub>PCH<sub>2</sub>PPh<sub>2</sub> (<b>dppm</b>), Ph<sub>2</sub>P(CH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>PPh<sub>2</sub> (<b>dppe</b>), Ph<sub>2</sub>P(CH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub>PPh<sub>2</sub> (<b>dppp</b>), Ph<sub>2</sub>P(<i>p</i>-C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>4</sub>)PPh<sub>2</sub> (<b>dppbz</b>), and (Ph<sub>2</sub>PCH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub>CCH<sub>3</sub> (<b>tdme</b>) were adsorbed in submonolayers on AC. The adsorbed phosphines were studied by <sup>31</sup>P MAS (magic angle spinning) NMR spectroscopy, and their mobilities on the surface were confirmed by determining the <sup>31</sup>P T<sub>1</sub> relaxation times. All phosphine groups of each bis- and trisphosphine molecule are in contact with the surface, and the molecules exhibit translational mobility as one unit. All phosphines used here are air-stable. Once a submonolayer is created on the AC surface, oxygen from the air is co-adsorbed and transforms all phosphines quantitatively into phosphine oxides at room temperature. The oxidation proceeds in a consecutive manner with the oxidation of one phosphine group after another until the fully oxidized species are formed. Studies of the kinetics are based on integrating the signals in the solution <sup>31</sup>P NMR spectra. High temperatures and low surface coverages increase the speed of the oxidation, while light and acid have no impact. The oxidation is fast and complete within one hour for 10% surface coverage at room temperature. In order to study the mechanism and slow down the oxidation, a higher surface coverage of 40% was applied. No unwanted P(V) side products or water adducts were observed. The clean phosphine oxides could be recovered in high yields by washing them off of the AC surface. The oxidation is based on radical activation of O<sub>2</sub> on the AC surface due to delocalized electrons on the AC surface. This is corroborated by the result that AIBN-derived radicals enable the air oxidation of PPh<sub>3</sub> in solution at 65 °C. When the air-stable complex (CO)<sub>2</sub>Ni(PPh<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> is applied to the AC surface and exposed to the air, OPPh<sub>3</sub> forms quantitatively. The new surface-assisted air oxidation of phosphines adsorbed on AC renders expensive and hazardous oxidizers obsolete and opens a synthetic pathway to the selective mono-oxidation of bis- and trisphosphines.
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spelling doaj-art-a2b394fe94c7445ebefa4810f510321e2025-08-20T03:50:17ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-06-013013273710.3390/molecules30132737Selective Air Oxidation of Bis- and Trisphosphines Adsorbed on Activated Carbon SurfacesEhsan Shakeri0John C. Hoefler1Janet Blümel2Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3012, USADepartment of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3012, USADepartment of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-3012, USABis- and trisphosphines incorporating methylene and aryl spacers readily adsorb on the surface of porous activated carbon (AC). The adsorption can be performed in the absence of solvents, even when the phosphines have high melting points, or from solutions. The diverse phosphines Ph<sub>2</sub>PCH<sub>2</sub>PPh<sub>2</sub> (<b>dppm</b>), Ph<sub>2</sub>P(CH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>PPh<sub>2</sub> (<b>dppe</b>), Ph<sub>2</sub>P(CH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub>PPh<sub>2</sub> (<b>dppp</b>), Ph<sub>2</sub>P(<i>p</i>-C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>4</sub>)PPh<sub>2</sub> (<b>dppbz</b>), and (Ph<sub>2</sub>PCH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub>CCH<sub>3</sub> (<b>tdme</b>) were adsorbed in submonolayers on AC. The adsorbed phosphines were studied by <sup>31</sup>P MAS (magic angle spinning) NMR spectroscopy, and their mobilities on the surface were confirmed by determining the <sup>31</sup>P T<sub>1</sub> relaxation times. All phosphine groups of each bis- and trisphosphine molecule are in contact with the surface, and the molecules exhibit translational mobility as one unit. All phosphines used here are air-stable. Once a submonolayer is created on the AC surface, oxygen from the air is co-adsorbed and transforms all phosphines quantitatively into phosphine oxides at room temperature. The oxidation proceeds in a consecutive manner with the oxidation of one phosphine group after another until the fully oxidized species are formed. Studies of the kinetics are based on integrating the signals in the solution <sup>31</sup>P NMR spectra. High temperatures and low surface coverages increase the speed of the oxidation, while light and acid have no impact. The oxidation is fast and complete within one hour for 10% surface coverage at room temperature. In order to study the mechanism and slow down the oxidation, a higher surface coverage of 40% was applied. No unwanted P(V) side products or water adducts were observed. The clean phosphine oxides could be recovered in high yields by washing them off of the AC surface. The oxidation is based on radical activation of O<sub>2</sub> on the AC surface due to delocalized electrons on the AC surface. This is corroborated by the result that AIBN-derived radicals enable the air oxidation of PPh<sub>3</sub> in solution at 65 °C. When the air-stable complex (CO)<sub>2</sub>Ni(PPh<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> is applied to the AC surface and exposed to the air, OPPh<sub>3</sub> forms quantitatively. The new surface-assisted air oxidation of phosphines adsorbed on AC renders expensive and hazardous oxidizers obsolete and opens a synthetic pathway to the selective mono-oxidation of bis- and trisphosphines.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/13/2737phosphine oxidesair oxidationbisphosphinestrisphosphinesactivated carbon surface
spellingShingle Ehsan Shakeri
John C. Hoefler
Janet Blümel
Selective Air Oxidation of Bis- and Trisphosphines Adsorbed on Activated Carbon Surfaces
Molecules
phosphine oxides
air oxidation
bisphosphines
trisphosphines
activated carbon surface
title Selective Air Oxidation of Bis- and Trisphosphines Adsorbed on Activated Carbon Surfaces
title_full Selective Air Oxidation of Bis- and Trisphosphines Adsorbed on Activated Carbon Surfaces
title_fullStr Selective Air Oxidation of Bis- and Trisphosphines Adsorbed on Activated Carbon Surfaces
title_full_unstemmed Selective Air Oxidation of Bis- and Trisphosphines Adsorbed on Activated Carbon Surfaces
title_short Selective Air Oxidation of Bis- and Trisphosphines Adsorbed on Activated Carbon Surfaces
title_sort selective air oxidation of bis and trisphosphines adsorbed on activated carbon surfaces
topic phosphine oxides
air oxidation
bisphosphines
trisphosphines
activated carbon surface
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/13/2737
work_keys_str_mv AT ehsanshakeri selectiveairoxidationofbisandtrisphosphinesadsorbedonactivatedcarbonsurfaces
AT johnchoefler selectiveairoxidationofbisandtrisphosphinesadsorbedonactivatedcarbonsurfaces
AT janetblumel selectiveairoxidationofbisandtrisphosphinesadsorbedonactivatedcarbonsurfaces