Advancing metallomimetic catalysis through structural constraints of cationic P^III species

In recent years, the concept of structural constraints on the main-group (MG) centers has emerged as a powerful strategy to enhance their reactivity. Among these, structurally constrained (SC) phosphorus centers have garnered significant attention due to their ability to cycle between two stable oxidation states, P(iii) and P(v), making them highly promising for small molecule activation and catalysis. Structural constraints grant phosphorus centers transition metal (TM)-like reactivity, enabling the activation of small molecules by these SC P(iii) centers, a reactivity previously inaccessible with conventional phosphines or other phosphorus derivatives. This feature article reviews recent advances in the chemistry of cationic, structurally constrained P(iii) (CSCP) compounds, emphasizing their ability to mimic TM behavior in small-molecule activation and catalysis, particularly through the key elementary steps of TM-based catalysis, such as oxidative addition (OA), migratory insertion (MI), ligand metathesis (LM), reductive elimination (RE), etc. The development of these SC cationic P(iii) species highlights the interplay between structural constraints and cationic charge, facilitating analogous metallomimetic reactivity in other main-group elements.