Electrophilic Phenoxy-substituted Phosphonium Cations

A family of electrophilic phenoxy-substituted phosphonium salts [(RO)P(CF)][B(CF)] (R = CH, 4-FCH, 2,4-FCH, CF) have been synthesized and their air stability was evaluated. Computations of the fluoride ion affinity and global electrophilicity index have been used to compare the electrophilicity of these phosphonium salts. The Lewis acidity of these phosphonium salts was probed computationally and experimentally in a Friedel-Crafts-type dimerization, hydrodefluorination, hydrosilylation, hydrodeoxygenation, and dehydrocoupling reactions.