Nucleophilic substitution in tris(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine

Abstract

Reaction of tris(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine with various nucleophiles (DMF, HMPA, HEPA, diethylformamide, hydrazine, UDMH, phenylhydrazine, formamide, and aniline) gave exclusively the replacement of all three para fluorines with the exception of aniline, phenylhydrazine, and formamide which gave mixtures of the mono- and bis-4-substituted phosphines. Sodium bisulphide and various alkoxides led mainly to C—P bond rupture though some alkoxides did under certain conditions give some of the expected substitution product. 19F, 31P, and 1H nmr and mass spectral data are presented.