Island Homoaromaticity in the W-Shaped 2,4-Diphospha-3-arsapentadienide Anion and Related Compounds - Theoretical and Experimental Investigations

A series of anions with general formula (R2C=P)2Pn– (Pn = N, P, As, Sb; R = H, Me, CF3, SiH3, SiMe3, SiF3) was investigated theoretically at the DFT (RI-BP86/TZVP) and RI-MP2/TZVP levels of approximation. Significantly sharpened central PPnP bond angles were predicted for the species with π-acceptor R substituents. The corresponding bond angle values decrease in the order Pn = N >> P > As > Sb. This finding is in agreement with the previously published structural data for [(Me3Si)2C=P]2P–. An island homoaromaticity was proposed as a suitable explanation for the observed effect. In more detail, it consists of shifting negative charge to the electron-withdrawing terminal groups with formation…