E–H Bond Activation of Ammonia and Water by a Geometrically Constrained Phosphorus(III) Compound

The synthesis of a phosphorus(III) compound bearing a N,N-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-phenoxy)amide ligand is reported. This species has been found to react with ammonia and water, activating the E–H bonds in both substrates by formal oxidative addition to afford the corresponding phosphorus(V) compounds. In the case of water, both O–H bonds can be activated, splitting the molecule into its constituent elements. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a compound based on main group elements that sequentially activates water in this manner.