Title of Invention

TERTIARY PHOSPHINE COMPOUNDS

Abstract

A compound of formula I: wherein: Rx is R1 or R3, Rr is R1 or R3, and Rz is R3; and wherein: (A) R1 and R2 have the following values: (i) R1 and R2 and the phosphorus atom to which R1 and R2 are bonded form a seven- to ten-membered heterobicycle; or (ii) each of R1 and R2 is independendy: C1-C30 alkyl; C3-C8 cycloalkyl; C2-C30 alkenyl; C2-C30 aikynyi; C4-C18 aryl; C7-C30 aralkyl; C1 C10 heteroalkyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S; C3-C8 heterocycle containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S; C3-C30 heteroalkenyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S; C3-C30 heteroalkynyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O and S; C4-CI8 heteroaryl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S and C7-C30 heteroaralkyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S

Full Text

FIELD OF THE INVENTION: The present invention relates to the field of organic chemistry. In particular, the present invention relates to tertiary phosphines and their methods of preparation. BACKGROUND: Tertiary phosphines find utility in several areas of organic chemistry, for example as starting materials for making phosphonium salts and ylids and as ligands in metal-carbene catalysts. Some bulky tertiary phosphines, such as tricyclohexylphosphine, have been reported to be useful as catalyst ligands. For example, bulky tertiary phosphines find utility as ligands for metal catalysts, such as the ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst (named after its inventor, Robert H. Grubbs). Notably, metal-carbene catalysts having tertiary phosphine ligands can be used as catalysts in several types of reactions, including: olefin metathesis reactions (for a recent review, see Rouhi, A. M. (2002) Chemical and Engineering News. pp. 29-33; see also: Grubbs et al. (1995) Ace. Chem. Res., vol. 28, p.446-452; Grubbs et al. (1998) Tetrahedron, vol. 54, pp. 4413-4450; Chatterjee et al. (1999) Org. Lett. Vol. 1, pp. 1751-1753); palladium-catalysed Suzuki cross couplings (Nethrton et al. (2001) J. Am.. Chem. Soc, vol. 123, pp. 10099-10100; Littke et al. (2000) J. Am. Chem. Soc, vol. 122, pp. 4020-4028); and palladium-catalysed Heck reactions (A.F. Littke and G.C. Fu, (1999) J. Org. Chem., vol. 64, pp. 10-11; Cabri et al. (1995) Ace. Chem. Res., vol. 28, pp. 2-7). A variety of tertiary phosphines can be prepared by reacting phosphorus trichloride with a Grignard reagent or with an organolithium compound, followed by aqueous workup, extraction and distillation. However, these processes have several disadvantages, in that materials used in these processes are expensive, corrosive, difficult to prepare owing to their sensitivity to moisture, and cumbersome to handle on a large scale. In addition, these processes generate large amount of waste. Further, these processes usually proceed quickly to the tertiary phosphine and are ideal for preparing a tertiary phosphine having identical radicals but are less suitable for preparing a tertiary phosphine having a particular composition of non-identical radicals. Alternatively, phosphine gas (PH3) can be reacted with an alkene under free radical conditions to produce primary, secondary and tertiary phosphines. This process advantageously avoids the use of organometallic compounds. However, this process may be less suitable for producing certain tertiary phosphines, such as tertiary phosphines that have several sterically bulky radicals attached to the central phosphorus atom. For example, addition of cyclohexene to PH3 under free radical conditions favours the production of dicyclohexylphosphine and provides poor yields of tricyclohexylphosphine. There have been some reports in the literature describing the preparation of cyclic and bicyclic tertiary phosphines (i.e. where the phosphorus atom is a ring member in a cyclic or bicyclic structure, respectively) via double Michael-additions of primary phosphines to conjugated dienones (Y. Kashman and Benady, E. (1972) Tetrahedron, vol. 28, pp. 4091-4098; E. Y. Zabotina et al. (2001) Tetrahedron, vol. 57, pp. 10177-10180; and WO 02/064249). However, this approach is limited to the preparation of cyclic and bicyclic phosphines. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: In one aspect, the present invention provides a compound of formula I: (I) wherein: Rx is R1 or R3, RY is R2 or R3, and Rz is R3; and wherein: each of R1 and R2 is independently hydrocarbyl, and R3 is wherein: R4 and the CR5-CHR6-CO group to which R4 is bonded form: (i) a substituted or unsubstituted five- to eight-membered ring optionally containing one, two, or three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, 0 and S; (ii) a substituted or unsubstituted fused bicycle having two or three fused five- or six-membered rings optionally containing one, two, or three heteroatoms selected from the group- consisting of Nr O and S; or (iii) a substituted or unsubstituted seven- to eight-membered bridged bicycle optionally containing one, two, or three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, 0 and S; R5 is hydrogen or an unsubstituted, unbranched C1-C4 hydrocarbyl; and R6 is hydrogen or an unsubstituted C1-C4 hydrocarbyl; with the proviso that R3 cannot have a C=C double bond conjugated with a carbonyl group. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of making a compound of formula I, the method comprising contacting a compound of formula II: (ID wherein each of R7 and R8 is independently a hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl, with a compound of formula III: wherein R4 and the CR5=CR6-CO group to which R4 is bonded form: (i) a substituted or unsubstituted five- to eight-membered ring optionally containing one, two, or three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, 0 and S; (ii) a substituted or unsubstituted fused bicycle having two or three fused five- or six-membered rings optionally containing one, two, or three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, 0 and S; or (iii) a substituted or unsubstituted seven- to eight-membered bridged bicycle optionally containing one, two, or three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, 0 and S; and R5 and R6 are defined as above; with the proviso that the compound of formula III has no more than one C=C double bond conjugated with a carbonyl group. In another aspect, the present invention provides use of a compound of formula I as a ligand for a metal catalyst, such as a ruthenium catalyst or a palladium catalyst. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES: Figure 1 is a 1H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectrum of 3- (9-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-yl) - cyclohexan-1-one. Figure 2 is a 13C NMR spectrum of 3- (9-phosphabicyclo[3. 3.1] nonan-9-yl) -cyclohexan-1-one. Figure 3 is a 31P NMR spectrum of 3- (9-phosphabicyclo [3- 3.1] nonan-9-yl) -cyclohexan-1-one . DETAILED DESCRIPTION: Compounds of formula I Suitable hydrocarbyl groups for R1, R2, R7, and R8, include: unsubstituted or substituted C1-C30 alkyl; unsubstituted or substituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl; unsubstituted or substituted C2-C30 alkenyl; unsubstituted or substituted C2-C30 alkynyl; unsubstituted or substituted. C6-C18 aryl; unsubstituted or substituted C7-C30 aralkyl; unsubstituted or substituted C2-C30 heteroalkyl containing one or two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, 0 or S; unsubstituted or substituted C3-C8 heterocycle containing one or two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O or S; unsubstituted or substituted C3-C30 heteroalkenyl containing one or two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O or S; unsubstituted or substituted C3-C30 heteroalkynyl containing one or two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O or S; unsubstituted or substituted C6-C18 heteroaryl containing one or two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O or S; unsubstituted or substituted C7-C30 heteroaralkyl containing one or two heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O or S. For the most part, it is contemplated that hydrocarbyl groups shall have not more than 20 carbon atoms. R1 and R2 and the phosphorus atom to which R1 and R2 are bonded can form a six- to eight-membered heterocycle, a seven- to- ten membered heterobicycle, or a ten membered- heterotricycle. Similarly, when both R7 and R8 are hydrocarbyl, R7 and R8 and the phosphorus atom to which R7 and R8 are bonded can form a six- to eight-membered heterocycle , a seven- to ten-membered heterobicycle, or a ten-membered heterotricycle. It is possible for the groups R1, R2, R7, and R8, to bear substituents, or to include heteroatoms, provided that the substituents or heteroatoms do not interfere with the preparation of the compounds of the invention, and do not adversely affect the desired properties of the tertiary phosphine. Acceptable substituents may include hydroxyl, halo, alkoxy, alkylthio, carboxy, and acetyl groups, and heteroatoms that may be acceptable include nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur. If necessary, one of skill in the art can readily determine whether substituents of heteratoms of the hydrocarbyl groups interfere with preparation or desired properties of the compounds by routine experimentation that does not involve the exercise of any inventive faculty. In many cases, R1, R2, R7, and R8 will be unsubstituted C1-C18 alkyl, unsubstituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted C6-C10 aryl. Thus, specific examples of values for R1, R2, R7, and R8, include: methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, iso-pentyl, cyclopentyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, norbornyl, (2, 4 , 4'-trimethyl)pentyl, cyclooctyl, tetradecyl, etc. Examples of heterobicycles that can be formed when the phosphorus atom is bonded to R7 and R8 include: 9- phosphabicyclo[3.3.l]nonane, 9-phosphabicyclo[4. 2.1]nonane, 9-phosphabicyclo[3.3 -1]nonan-3-one, 4, 8-dimethyl-2- phosphabicyclo[3.1.l]nonane, and 2,5-di(C1-C4 alkyl)-7- phosphabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane. Examples of heterotricycles that can be formed when the phosphorus atom is bonded to R7 and R8 include: 1, 3, 5,7-tetra (C1-C4 alkyl)-2,4,8-trioxa-6- phosphaadamantane. Examples of heterobicycles that can be formed when the phosphorus atom is bonded to R1 and R2 include: 9- phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]non-9-yl, 9-phosphabicyclo[4.2 .1] non-9- yl, 9-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-on-9-yl, 4,8-dimethyl-2- phosphabicyclo[3.1.l]non-9-yl, and 2,5-di(C1-C4 alkyl)-7~ phosphabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-7-yl. Examples of heterotricycles that can be formed when the phosphorus atom is bonded to R1 and R2 include: 1,3,5,7-tetra (Ci-C4 alkyl)-2,4,8-trioxa-6- phosphaadamant-6-yl. R4 can bear substituents or include heteroatoms, provided that the substituents or heteroatoms do not interfere with the preparation or use of'the compound. Acceptable substituents may include halo, and hydroxy, as well as hydrocarbyl groups such as alkyl, alkenyl and cycloalkyl groups, heteroatoms that may be acceptable include N, 0 and S. Mention is made of C1-C8 alkyl and alkenyl groups, straight chained or branched, C3-C8 cycloalkyl groups, and aryl groups such as phenyl or napthyl, aralkyl groups such as benzyl or phenethyl and alkaryl groups such as tolyl or xylyl. Other substituents include acyl, acyloxy, alkoxy, alkenoxy and aryloxy groups, again having up to about 8 carbon atoms. Substituents that are electron-withdrawing, for instance fluoro, hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano, alkylcarbonyl and alkoxycarbonyl, may favour the reaction for preparing compounds of formula I. To avoid steric interference, R4 can be chosen so. that bulky .substituents are not present on the carbon atom that is immediately adjacent to the R5-bearing carbon atom (i.e. the carbon atom that bonds to the phosphorus atom). R4 can be unsaturated, provided that R4 is chosen so that the compound of formula III has. no mnore than one C=C .double bond, conjugated with a carbonyl group and further that R3 does not have a C=C double bond conjugated with a carbonyl group. Thus, suitable values for R4 include but are not limited to ethylene (-CH2-CH2-) , propylene (-CH2-CH2-CH2-) , and (-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-) , and suitable values for R3 when it is a five- to eight-membered ring include 3-oxo- cyclopentyl, 3-oxo-cyclohexyl, and 3-dxo-cyclooctyl. Examples of compounds of formula III when it is a five- to eight-membered ring include 2-cyclopenten-l-one, 2-cyclohexen-l-one, 2-cycloocten-l-one, isophorone (i.e. 3, 5, 5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-l-one) , carvonone (i.e. 2-methyl-5-(1-methylethenyl)-2-cyclohexen-l-one) , and dihydro-carvanone (i.e. 2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)- 2-cyclohexen-l-one) In the present context, two rings are said to be "fused" if they have one bond common to both rings. Thus, suitable values for R3 when it is a fused bicycle having two or three fused five- or six-membered rings include: Examples of compounds of formula III when it is a fused bicycle having two or three fused five- or six-membered rings include: In the present context, a "bridged" bicyclic compound is a compound in which a bridge of atom(s) extends from one side of a ring to the other. Thus, suitable values for R3 when it is a seven- to eight-membered bridged bicycle include: Examples of compounds of formula III when it is a seven- to eight-membered bridged bicycle include verbenone: Suitable hydrocarbyl groups for R5 include: methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butyl. However, R5 is preferably hydrogen or methyl, and more preferably R5 is hydrogen. Suitable hydrocarbyl groups for R6 include: methylr ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl and tert-butyl. However, when R6 is bulky, it may interfere with the rate of reaction of a compound of formula III with a phosphine of formula II. Therefore, in many cases it is preferred that R6 is hydrogen or methyl, and more preferred that R6 is hydrogen. There is no critical upper limit to the number of carbon atoms that may be present in the compounds of formula I. However, for the most part it is contemplated that compounds of formula I shall contain no more than about 30 carbon atoms. Tertiary phosphine compounds of formula I that may find utility, for example, as catalyst ligands and as starting materials for making phosphonium salts and ylids. It is noted that the R groups in tertiary phosphines of formula I can be the same or different, i.e. the tertiary phosphine can have identical or mixed radicals. The properties of the tertiary phosphine can be modified by varying the values and mixture of the R groups present on the phosphorus atom. Tertiary phosphines having sterically bulky R groups are preferred in some applications. For example, bulky electron-rich tertiary phosphines may be preferred as catalyst ligands, e.g. for metal catalysts of reactions including but not limited to olefin metathesis, palladium- catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling, palladium-catalyzed Heck reactions, hydroformylations, and carbonylations. For this reason, it may be preferred that R1 and R2 are cyclic, branched, or aromatic, or together with the phosphorus atom to which they are bonded form heterocycles, heterobicycles or heterotricycles. Branching can occur at the alpha or omega carbon or at any intermediate point. Sterically bulky R groups include branched C4-C18 alkyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and C6-C10 aryl, any of which may be substituted or unsubstituted, but for the most part will be unsubstituted. Thus, specific examples of sterically bulky R groups include: iso-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl,--iso-pentyl, _cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl phenyl, norbornyl, cyclooctxl, (2, 4, 4'-trimethyl)pentyl, etc. Sterically bulky heterobicycles include: 9-phosphobicyclo[3.3.1]non-9-yl, 9-phosphabicyclo[4.2.1]non-9-yl, 9-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-on-9-yl, 4,8-dimethyl-2-phosphabicyclo[3.1.l]non-9-yl, and 2,5- di(C1-C4 alkyl)-7-phosphabicyclo[2.2.l]hept-7-yl. Sterically bulky heterotricycles that 'can be formed when the phosphorus atom is bonded to R1 and R2 include: 1,3,5,7- tetra (C1-C4 alkyl) -2, 4, 8-trioxa-6-phosphaadamant-6-yl. Method for preparing compounds of formula I Tertiary phosphines of formula I can be prepared by reacting a phosphihe of formula II (PH3 or a primary or secondary phosphine, hereinafter referred to as a "starting phosphine") with an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound of formula III having no more than one C=C double bond conjugated with a carbonyl group. By "conjugated" double bonds, we mean two double bonds separated by a single bond i.e. C=C-C=C, C=C-C=0, etc. Compounds with a C=C double bond conjugted with a C=0 group are known in the art as alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. In general, the reaction proceeds over a wide range of temperatures, say between about 40°C to about 180°C, often in the range of 50°C to 70°C, and is often complete in 8 hours or less at these temperatures. Although the temperature of the reaction is not critical, lower temperatures will result in longer reaction times. When the reaction is carried out in the liquid phase at ambient pressure, there may be a practical upper limit to the reaction temperature that can be used, based on the respective boiling points of the alpha,beta unsaturated carbonyl compound and starting phosphine reagents. The initial step of mixing the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound and the starting phosphine reagents may be conveniently carried out at room temperature or slightly elevated temperature. When the starting phosphine of formula II is liquid at the temperature to be used for carrying out the reaction, the pressure of the reaction is not critical, and the reaction may be conveniently carried out at atmospheric pressure, preferably under an inert atmosphere, such as nitrogen. However, when the starting phosphine is a gas at the temperature to be used for carrying out the reaction, the reaction is suitably carried out under pressure (e.g. in an autoclave) under an inert atmosphere, such as nitrogen. For example, PH3 is a gas with boiling point of about -87°C and some primary and secondary phosphines with small R groups (such as methylphosphine which has a boiling point of -20°, ethylphosphine, dimethylphosphine, and diethylphosphine) have low boiling points and may be gaseous at the temperature to be used for carrying out the reaction. The reaction can be carried out in the absence of solvent, in order to avoid a further step of purifying product away from solvent. However, the reaction can also be carried out in the presence of a solvent. In some cases, the presence of a solvent may be useful for controlling the temperature of the reaction, which is exothermic. Examples of suitable solvents include: toluene, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, dimethylformamide, tributylphosphate, tritylphosphine oxide. Unreacted starting materials may be removed, for example, by evaporation under vacuum. The properties of the reagents may affect The overall course of the reaction. For example, the increased steric bulk of R3 when it bears substituents may decrease the rate of reaction. This effect may be counteracted somewhat if the substituents have electron-withdrawing properties. Increased steric bulk around the phosphorus atom may decrease the overall rate of reaction. The presence of electron-withdrawing groups on the starting phosphine of formula II may also decrease the overall rate of reaction. In many cases, the reaction proceeds readily without further addition of a promoter (i.e. an acid promoter or a base promoter). However, in some cases, for example where the alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds of formula III or the phosphine is sterically hindered, adding an acid promoter or base promoter may enhance the rate of the reaction. In one embodiment, the method of the current invention can be used to prepare tertiary phosphines that have bulky radicals, identical or mixed (i.e. non-identical). Tertiary phosphines having bulky radicals may find utility as catalyst ligands, e.g. for metal-carbene catalysts. Notably, tertiary phosphines having mixed radicals provide possibilities for catalyst ligands that have not yet been explored, due to the relative inaccessibility of tertiary phosphine ligands having mixed radicals. The tertiary phosphines described herein may also find utility as starting materials, for example for making phosphonium salts or ylids. The invention is further illustrated in the following non-limiting examples. Example 1: Preparation of 3-(di(iso-butyl)phosphino)cyclohexan-l-one A 250 ml round-bottomed flask fitted with a condenser, nitrogen purge, and addition funnel was charged with 29.9 g (0.3 mol) 2-cyclohexen-l-one and heated to 45°C with stirring. Di-(iso-butyl)phosphine (28.8 g, 0.2 mol) was gradually added to the flask via the addition funnel, over a period of 0.5 hour. When addition was complete, the temperature of the contents of the flask was slowly raised to 70°C and maintained at that temperature for 3 hours, then cooled. Unreacted starting materials were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure at 120°C. The product of the reaction was analyzed by 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and GC/MS (Gas chromatography mass spectrometry) Di- (iso-butyl)phosphinocyclohexan-l-one was obtained in 70.9 % yield (55.1 g) Example 2: Preparation of 3-(dicyclohexylphosphino)cyclohexan-1-one A 250 ml round-bottomed flask fitted with a condenser, nitrogen purge, and addition funnel was charged with a solution of 89.7 g (0.45 mol) dicyclohexylphosphine and heated to 60°C with stirring. To the flask was added 50.8 g (0.53 mol) 2-cyclohexen-l-one over a period of 0.5 hour. When addition was complete, the temperature of the contents of the flask was slowly raised to 90°C and maintained at that temperature for 6 hours, then cooled. Unreacted starting materials were removed by evaporation under reduced pressure at 150°C. The product of the reaction was analyzed by 1H, 13C, and 31P and GC/MS. Dicyclohexylphosphinocyclohexan-1-one was obtained in 98.3 % yield (140.5 g) and solidified to form a fine white powder. Example 3: Preparation of 3- (9-phosphabicyclo [3.3.1] nonan-9-yl) -cyclohexan-1-one 2-cyclohexenone (19.2 g, Aldrich, 95%, Mt. 96.13, 0.1897 mole) was added dropwise to a flask containing 9-phospha-cyclo[3.3.1]nonane (72.8 g, 37%, Mt. 142, 0.1897mole) and toluene under nitrogen flow and at 120 °C, with stirring. The temperature of the reaction mixture was gradually increased to 160°C, accompanied by stripping off the toluene through the additional funnel.. The reaction mixture was further refluxed at 160 CC for 9 hours. GC/MS showed that the 2-cyclohexenone was almost consumed. The crude product was dried on rotary-evaporator at 170 °C and 5mmHg for 2 hours. The dried product was solid at room temperature and weighted 45 g (yield 99 %) . The product of the reaction was analyzed by 1H, 13C, and 31P (see Figures 1 to 3) , confirming that the major product was 3- (9-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-yl)- cyclohexan-1-one. Example 4: Preparation of di (cyclohexanon-3-yl) -cyclohexylphosphine Cyclohexylphosphine (17.0 g, 98%, Mt. 116, 0.1436 mole) was added gradually (i.e. over a 30-hour period) through an additional funnel to a flask containing cycliohexenone (27 9g 95% M.T 96-.13,O. 2757 mole preheated (150 °C) solution in toluene (33 g), under nitrogen. The reaction was followed by GC-MS analysis. Upon completion of addition of the cyclohexylphosphine, GC/MS showed peaks for compounds with molecular weights 212 and 308, corresponding respectively to the molecular weights of cyclohexylphosphinocyclhexan-1-one (the mono-substituted product) and di (cyclohexanon-3-yl) -cyclohexylphosphine (the di-susbtituted product) . The mixture was refluxed for a further 8 hours. GC/MS analysis showed that the reaction mixture contained about 60% of the di(cyclohexanon-2-yl)- cyclohexylphosphine product. WE CLAIM: 1. A compound of formula I: wherein: Rx is R1 or R3, RY is R2 or R5, and Rz is R3; and wherein: (A) R1 and R have the following values: (i) R1 and Rz and die phosphorus atom to which R1 and R2 are bonded form a seven- to ten-membered heterobicycle; or (ii) each of R1 and R2 is independendy: C1-C30 alkyl;C3-C8 cycloalkyl; C2-C30 alkenyl; C2-C30 alkynyl; C6-C18 aryl; C7-C30 aralkyl; C2- C30 heteroalkyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S; C3-C8 heterocycle containi ng one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S; C3-C30 heteroalkenyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S; C3-C30 heteroalkynyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O and S; C6-C18 heteroaryl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S and C7-C30 heteroaralkyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S with the proviso that Rl and R2 can be unsubstituted or optionally independently substituted with one or more of hydroxyl, halo, alkoxy, alkylthio, carboxyl and acetyl groups. (B) R is selected from: with the proviso that when R1 and R2 arc ethyl, R3 cannot be 3-oxo-cyclopentyl. 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein Rx is R1 and R is R2. 3. The compound of claim 1 or 2, wherein: (i) Rx is R1 and Rr is R3; or (ii) Rx is R3 and Rr is R2. 4. The compound of claim I, wherein Rx and Ry are both R3. 5. The compound of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of R1 and R2is independently selected from the group consisting of: unsubstituted C1-C18 alkyl, unsubstituted C3-C18 cycloalkyl, and unsubstituted C6-C10 aryl. 6. The compound of claim 5, wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of: unsubstituted, branched C4-C18 alkyl, unsubstituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and unsubstituted C6-C10 aryl. 7. The compound of claim 6, wherein each of R and R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of: iso-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, iso-pentyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, norbonyl, cyclooctyl, and (2,4,4-trimethyl)pentyl. 8. The compound of claim 7, wherein R1 and R2 are both cyclohexyl. 9. The compound of claim 7, wherein R1 and R2are both iso-butyl. 10. The compound of claim 2, wherein R and R and the phosphorus atom to which R and R are bonded form a seven to ten-membered heterobicycle. 11. The compound of claim 2, wherein R and R and the phosphorus atom to which R1 and R2 are bonded form a bridged heterobicycle selected from the group consisting of: 9-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1 ]non-9-yl, 9-phosphabicyclo[4.2.1 ]non-9-yl, 9-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonon-3-on-9-yl, 4,8-dimethyI-2-phosphabicyclo[3.1. l]non-9-yl, and 2,5-di (C,-C4 alkyl) -7-phosphabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-7-yl. 12. The compound of any one of claims 1-11, wherein R3 is 13. The compound of any one of claims 1-11, wherein R3 is 14. The compound is 3-(dicyclohexylphosphino)cyclohexan-l-one. 15. The compound 3-(di (iso-butyl)phosphino)cyclohexan-l-one. 16. A method of making a compound of formula I, as defined in claim 1, the method comprising contacting a compound of formula II: wherein: R is a hydrogen, R1 or R3, and R is a hydrogen, R1 or R3, with a cyclic alpha.beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound selected from: at a temperature of from about 40 to about 180°C with the proviso that when R7 and R8 are ethyl, the cyclic alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound cannot be 2-cyclopenten-l-one. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein R7 is R1 or R3 and R8 is R2 or R3. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein: (a) R7 is R1 or R3 and R8 is hydrogen; or (b) R7 is hydrogen and R8 is R or R3. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein R and R are both hydrogen. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein each of R1 and R2 is independendy an unsubstituted C1-C18 alkyl, an unsubstituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or an unsubstituted C4-C10aryl. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein each of R1 and R2 is independendy selected form the group consisting of unsubstituted, branched C4-C18 alkyl, unsubstituted C3-C8cycloalkyl, and unsubstituted C6-CI0 aryl. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein each of R1 and R2 is independendy selected from the group consisting of: iso-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, iso-pentyl, cydopentyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, norbornyl, cydooctyl, and (2, 4, 4-trimethyl)pentyl. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein R1 and R2 are both iso-butyl. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein R1 and R2 are both cyclohexyl. 25. The method of claim 17, wherein R is R1 and R is R2, and R1, R2_and the phosphorus atom to which R1 and R2 are bonded form a seven-to ten-membered heterobicycle. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the heterobicycle is selected from the group consisting of: 9-phosphabicyclo[33- l]nonane, 9-phosphabicyclo[4.2. ljnonane, 9-phosphabicycIo [3.3.1] nonanone, 4,8-dimethyl-2-phosphabicyclo[3.1. ljnonane, and 2,5-di (C1-C4 alkyl)-7- phosphabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-7-yl. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the compound of formula III is 2- cyclohexen- one-one. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the compound of formula III is 2- cyclopentan-1- one. 29. The compound 3-(9-phosphabicyelo[3.3. l]nonan-9-yl)-cyclohexan-l-one. 30. The compound di(cyclohexanon-3-yl)-cyclohexylphosphine 31. A method for the use of a compound according to any one of claims 1 to 15,29 and 30 as a ligand for a metal catalyst. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the metal catalyst is a ruthenium catalyst. 33. The method of claim 31, wherein the metal catalyst is a palladium catalyst. A compound of formula I: wherein: Rx is R1 or R3, Rr is R1 or R3, and Rz is R3; and wherein: (A) R1 and R2 have the following values: (i) R1 and R2 and the phosphorus atom to which R1 and R2 are bonded form a seven- to ten-membered heterobicycle; or (ii) each of R1 and R2 is independendy: C1-C30 alkyl; C3-C8 cycloalkyl; C2-C30 alkenyl; C2-C30 aikynyi; C4-C18 aryl; C7-C30 aralkyl; C1 C10 heteroalkyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S; C3-C8 heterocycle containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S; C3-C30 heteroalkenyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S; C3-C30 heteroalkynyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O and S; C4-CI8 heteroaryl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S and C7-C30 heteroaralkyl containing one or two heteroatoms which are N, O or S

Documents:

1766-KOLNP-2005-FORM 27.pdf

1766-KOLNP-2005-FORM-27.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-abstract.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-assignment.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-claims.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-correspondence.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-description (complete).pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-drawings.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-examination report.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-form 1.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-form 2.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-form 3.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-pa.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

1766-kolnp-2005-granted-specification.pdf