Synthesis of phosphane oxide bridged bis- and triscatechol derivatives

Linear biscatechols and triangular triscatechols possessing spacers containing phosphane oxide were synthesized. For this, the central phosphorus was introduced by the reaction of active organometallic intermediates with either dichlorophenylphosphane or phosphorus trichloride/phosphoryl chloride. In the final steps, the methyl ethers at the veratrol units were cleaved by boron tribromide to afford the free phosphane oxide catechol derivatives, which in metal-directed self-assembly processes would lead to helical or tetrahedral supramolecular aggregates.