Polarity and Conformational Analysis of Tri(1-naphthyl)phosphine, Tri(2-naphthyl)phosphine, and Their Chalcogenides

Abstract

Abstract: The polarity and structure of tri(1- or 2-naphthyl)phosphines and their chalcogenides were determined by the methods of dipole moments, IR spectroscopy, and DFT quantum-chemical calculations at the B3PW91/6-311++G(df,p) level of theory. In solution, tri(1-naphthyl)phosphine prefers a single conformer with a gauche,gauche,gauche orientation of the substituents at the phosphorus. Tri(2-naphthyl)phosphine, as well as both phosphine chalcogenides exist as equilibrium mixtures of several forms with a propeller arrangement of the substituents and a cis or gauche orientation of the Csp2‒Csp2 and P=X (X = LEP, O, S, Se) bonds.