Sterically encumbered tin and phosphorus peri-substituted acenaphthenes

A group of sterically encumbered peri-substituted acenaphthenes have been prepared, containing tin moieties at the 5,6-positions in 1–3 ([Acenap(SnR₃)₂], Acenap = acenaphthene-5,6-diyl; R₃ = Ph₃ (1), Me₃ (2); [(Acenap)₂(SnMe₂)₂] (3)) and phosphorus functional groups at the proximal peri-positions in 4 and 5 ([Acenap(PR₂)(PⁱPr₂)] R₂ = Ph₂ (4), Ph(ⁱPr) (5)). Bis(stannane) structures 1–3 are dominated by repulsive interactions between the bulky tin groups, leading to peri-distances approaching the sum of van der Waals radii. Conversely, the quasi-linear C_Ph-P···P three-body fragments found in bis(phosphine) 4 suggest the presence of a lp(P)−σ*(P–C) donor–acceptor 3c-4e type interaction, supported by a notably short intramolecular P···P distance and notably large J_PP through-space coupling (180 Hz). Severely strained bis(sulfides) 4-S and 5-S, experiencing pronounced in-plane and out-of-plane displacements of the exocyclic peri-bonds, have also been isolated following treatment of 4 and 5 with sulfur. The resulting nonbonded intramolecular P···P distances, ∼4.05 Å and ∼12% longer than twice the van der Waals radii of P (3.60 Å), are among the largest ever reported peri-separations, independent of the heteroatoms involved, and comparable to the distance found in 1 containing the larger Sn atoms (4.07 Å). In addition we report two metal complexes with square planar [(4)PtCl₂] (4-Pt) and octahedral cis-[(4)Mo(CO)₄] (4-Mo) geometries. In both complexes the bis(phosphine) backbone is distorted, but notably less so than in bis(sulfide) 4-S. All compounds were fully characterized, and except for bis(phosphine) 5, crystal structures were determined.