A series of phosphine-diphenylphosphenium donor-acceptor cationic complexes have been synthesized and comprehensively characterized (phosphine = diphenylchlorophosphine, triphenylphosphine, trimethylphosphine, and tricyclohexylphosphine). The complexes involve homoatomic P-P coordinate bonds that are susceptible to ligand exchange reactions highlighting a versatile new synthetic method for P-P bond formation. Phosphenium complexes of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene and 1,2-bis(tert-butylphosphino)benzene undergo unusual rearrangements to give a "segregated" diphosphine-phosphonium cation and a cyclic di(phosphino)phosphonium cation, respectively. The rearrangement products reveal the kinetic stability of the phosphine-phosphenium bonding arrangement.

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The electronic structures of fifteen Group 13-16 carbene analogues are analyzed using various quantum chemical methods and compared to the data obtained for the parent N-heterocylic carbene (NHC), imidazol-2-ylidene. The results of this study present a uniform analysis of the similarities and differences in the electronic structures of p-block main group carbene analogues. Though all systems are formally isovalent, the theoretical analyses unambiguously indicate that their electronic structures run the gamut from C=C localized (Group 13) to C=N localized (Group 16) via intermediate, more delocalized, systems. In particular, neither the stibenium ion nor any of the chalcogenium dications is a direct analogue of imidazol-2-ylidene as they all contain two lone pairs of electrons around the divalent main group center, instead of the expected one. The reason behind the gradual change in the electronic structure of main group analogues of imidazol-2-ylidene was traced to the total charge of the systems, which changes from anionic to dicationic when moving from left to right in the periodic table. Results from theoretical analyses of aromaticity show that all Group 13-16 analogues of imidazol-2-ylidene display some degree of aromatic character. The heavier Group 13 anions benefit the least from π-electron delocalization, whereas the cationic Group 15 systems are on par with the parent carbon system and display only slightly less aromatic character than cyclopentadienide, a true 6π-electron aromatic species. The σ-donor and π-acceptor ability of the different main group carbene analogues is also evaluated.

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There is currently an urgent need for the development of new antibacterial agents to combat the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We explored the synthesis and antibacterial activities of novel, sugar-functionalized phosphonium polymers. While these compounds exhibited antibacterial activity, we unexpectedly found that the control polymer poly(tris(hydroxypropyl)vinylbenzylphosphonium chloride) showed very high activity against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and very low haemolytic activity against red blood cells. These results challenge the conventional wisdom in the field that lipophilic alkyl substituents are required for high antibacterial activity and opens prospects for new classes of antibacterial polymers.

The purpose of this Viewpoint is to discuss the molecular design principles that guide development of synthetic antimicrobial polymers, especially those intended to mimic the structure of host defense peptides (HDPs). In particular, we focus on the principle of “amphiphilic balance” as it relates to some recently developed polyphosphoniums with somewhat atypical structure. We find that the fundamental concept of amphiphilic balance is still applicable to these new polymers, but that the method to achieve such balance is somewhat unique. We then briefly outline the future challenges and opportunities in this field.

Fit for a king: Cationic complexes of Ge(II) can be prepared by using crown ethers to stabilize and protect the germanium center. Three different crown ethers were employed: [12]crown-4 (see structure, Ge teal, O red, C gray), [15]crown-5, and [18]crown-6. The structures of the cationic complexes depend on the cavity size of the crown ether and on the substituent on germanium.