Synthesis and properties of a novel family of fluorous triphenylphosphine derivatives

A novel approach to the preparation of perfluorotail-functionalized triarylphosphines using a p-silyl substituent as the branching point has been developed. This approach enabled the attachment of between three and nine perfluarotails per phosphorus atom, resulting in the production of highly fluorous tris [p-(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoroalkylsilyl)aryl] phosphines, P[C6H4-p-SiMe3-n(CH2CH2CxF2x+1)(n)](3) (n = 1, 2, 3; x = 6, 8), containing between 50 and 67 wt % nuorine. P-31 NMR studies indicate that the phosphorus atoms, and consequently the a-donor and pi-acceptor properties of these phosphines, are not influenced by the electron-withdrawing perfluoroalkyltails. The fluorous triarylphosphines are readily soluble in fluorous solvents and display fluorous phase preference in several fluorous biphasic systems. The phase partitioning of these fluorous ligands, as well as their donor properties, is discussed in relation to their potential for fluorous biphasic catalyst separation.