Uncommon coordination behaviour of P(S) and P(Se) units when bonded to carboranyl clusters: experimental and computational studies on the oxidation of carboranyl phosphine ligands.

Oxidation of closo-carboranyl diphosphines 1,2-(PR(2))(2)-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (R=Ph, iPr) and closo-carboranyl monophosphines 1-PR(2)-2-R'-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (R=Ph, iPr, Cy; R'=Me, Ph) with hydrogen peroxide, sulfur and elemental black selenium evidences the unique capacity of the closo-carborane cluster to produce uncommon or unprecedented P/P(E) (E=S, Se) and P=O/P=S chelating ligands. When H(2)O(2) reacts with 1,2-(PR(2))(2)-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (R=Ph, iPr), they are oxidized to 1,2-(OPR(2))(2)-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) (R=Ph, iPr). However, when S and Se are used, different reactivity is found for 1,2-(PPh(2))(2)-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(10) and 1,2-(PiPr(2))(2)-1,2-closo-C(2)…