Verkade base
In chemistry, a Verkade base (or Verkade superbase) is a superbase with the formula P(MeNCH2CH2)3N. A colorless oil, it is an aminophosphine although its inventor John Verkade called it proazaphosphatrane. The trimethyl derivative or 2,5,8,9-tetraza-1-phosphabicyclo[3.3.3]undecane is the simplest.[1] Diverse analogues of the Verkade base are known, e.g. with isopropyl groups in place of methyl.
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IUPAC name
2,8,9-trimethyl-2,5,8,9-tetraza-1-phosphabicyclo[3.3.3]undecane | |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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Properties | |
C9H21N4P | |
Molar mass | 216.269 g·mol−1 |
Appearance | colorless oil |
Boiling point | 263.9 °C (507.0 °F; 537.0 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
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Synthesis and reactions
The Verkade base is generated by the reaction of N,N,N-trimethyltren with tris(dimethylamino)phosphine:[2]
- P(NMe2)3 + (MeNHCH2CH2)3N → P(MeNCH2CH2)3N + 3 Me2NH
The principal reaction of the Verkade base is protonation. The proton attacks the Verkade base at phosphorus, inducing the formation of a transannular P-N bond. The product exemplifies the structure of an atrane.
The conjugate acid [HP(MeNCH2CH2)3N]+ has a pKa of 32.9 in acetonitrile. For comparison, the conjugate acid of triethylamine has a pKa's near 17 in acetonitrile. Owing to its ability to deprotonate weak carbon acids, the Verkade base catalyzes a variety of condensation reactions.
Related compounds
Phosphazenes are phosphorus(V) derivatives with the formula RN=P(NR2)3. They are about 1010 more basic than the Verkade base.[3]
References
- Verkade, John G.; Urgaonkar, Sameer (2012). "Proazaphosphatrane". Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis. doi:10.1002/047084289X.rn00702.pub2.
- Schmidt, H.; Lensink, C.; Xi, S. K.; Verkade, J. G. (1989). "New Prophosphatranes: Novel intermediates to five-coordinate phosphatranes". Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie. 578: 75–80. doi:10.1002/zaac.19895780109.
- Saame, Jaan; Rodima, Toomas; Tshepelevitsh, Sofja; Kütt, Agnes; Kaljurand, Ivari; Haljasorg, Tõiv; Koppel, Ilmar A.; Leito, Ivo (2016). "Experimental Basicities of Superbasic Phosphonium Ylides and Phosphazenes". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 81 (17): 7349–7361. doi:10.1021/acs.joc.6b00872. PMID 27392255.