文摘
Phosphinite-based metallacycles are important intermediates, catalyst precursors, or catalysts for a variety of chemical transformations. Facile, reversible formation of P鈥揙 bonds allows phosphinites to act as catalytic directing groups that lead to more efficient and selective metal-catalyzed processes. Relatively low costs and convenient syntheses make metallacyclic phosphinite complexes attractive compounds for catalytic studies. Given the high interest in developing the related phosphine- and phosphite-based catalysts, this Perspective focuses specifically on the comparisons between these different metallacyclic complexes in catalytic reactions. In a number of examples, phosphinite-based metallacycles are more efficient catalysts due to better-matched ligand properties for rate-limiting steps or faster conversion of the complexes to catalytically active species.