Diarylphosphine- and dialkylphosphine-containing compounds, processes of preparing same and uses thereof as tridentate ligands

Abstract

A novel process of preparing tridentate ligands containing one or more of a diarylphosphine and/or dialkylphosphine electron donating groups are disclosed. Use of this process for preparing a combinatorial library of such tridentate ligands and of organometallic complexes containing same is also disclosed. Further disclosed are novel diarylphosphine-containing and dialkylphosphine-containing compounds that can serve as tridentate ligands (e.g., pincer ligands), combinatorial libraries of such tridentate ligands, organometallic complexes containing these ligands (e.g., pincer complexes), and combinatorial libraries of such complexes. Methods utilizing these libraries for screening for candidate organometallic catalysts are also disclosed. Novel precursor molecules useful for preparing the tridentate ligands and processes of preparing same are also disclosed.