Phosphorus triiodide

Last updated
Phosphorus triiodide
Phosphorus-triiodide-2D-dimensions.png
Phosphorus-triiodide-3D-vdW.png
PI3.jpg
Names
IUPAC names
Phosphorus triiodide
Phosphorus(III) iodide
Other names
Triiodophosphine
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.033.302 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
EC Number
  • 236-647-2
PubChem CID
UNII
  • InChI=1S/I3P/c1-4(2)3 Yes check.svgY
    Key: PZHNNJXWQYFUTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Yes check.svgY
  • InChI=1/I3P/c1-4(2)3
    Key: PZHNNJXWQYFUTD-UHFFFAOYAR
  • IP(I)I
Properties
PI3
Molar mass 411.68717 g/mol
Appearancedark red solid
Density 4.18 g/cm3
Melting point 61.2 °C (142.2 °F; 334.3 K)
Boiling point 200 °C (392 °F; 473 K) (decomposes)
Decomposes
Structure
Trigonal pyramidal
Hazards
GHS labelling: [1]
GHS-pictogram-acid.svg GHS-pictogram-exclam.svg
Danger
H314, H335
P260, P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P305+P351+P338
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704.svgHealth 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g. chlorine gasFlammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterInstability 2: Undergoes violent chemical change at elevated temperatures and pressures, reacts violently with water, or may form explosive mixtures with water. E.g. white phosphorusSpecial hazard W: Reacts with water in an unusual or dangerous manner. E.g. sodium, sulfuric acid
3
0
2
W
Flash point non-flammable
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
X mark.svgN  verify  (what is  Yes check.svgYX mark.svgN ?)

Phosphorus triiodide (PI3) is an inorganic compound with the formula PI3. A red solid, it is too unstable to be stored for long periods of time; it is, nevertheless, commercially available. [2] It is widely used in organic chemistry for converting alcohols to alkyl iodides and also serves as a powerful reducing agent.

Contents

Properties

Although PI3 is a pyramidal molecule, it has only a small molecular dipole because each P-I bond has almost no bond dipole moment. The P-I bond is also weak; PI3 is much less stable than PBr3 and PCl3, with a standard enthalpy of formation for PI3 of only −46 kJ/ mol (solid). The phosphorus atom has an NMR chemical shift of 178 ppm (downfield of H3PO4).

Reactions

Phosphorus triiodide reacts vigorously with water, producing phosphorous acid (H3PO3) and hydroiodic acid (HI), along with smaller amounts of phosphine and various P-P-containing compounds. Alcohols likewise form alkyl iodides, this providing the main use for PI3.

PI3 is also a powerful reducing agent and deoxygenating agent. It reduces sulfoxides to sulfides, even at −78 °C. [3] Meanwhile, heating a 1-iodobutane solution of PI3 with red phosphorus causes reduction to P2I4.

Preparation

The usual method or preparation is by the union of the elements, often by addition of iodine to a solution of white phosphorus in carbon disulfide:

P4 + 6 I2 → 4 PI3

Alternatively, PCl3 may be converted to PI3 by the action of hydrogen iodide or certain metal iodides.

Uses

Phosphorus triiodide is commonly used in the laboratory for the conversion of primary or secondary alcohols to alkyl iodides. [4] The alcohol is frequently used as the solvent, on top of being the reactant. Often the PI3 is made in situ by the reaction of red phosphorus with iodine in the presence of the alcohol; for example, the conversion of methanol to give iodomethane: [5]

PI3 + 3 CH
3
OH
→ 3 CH
3
I
+ " H
3
PO
3
"

These alkyl iodides are useful compounds for nucleophilic substitution reactions, and for the preparation of Grignard reagents.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haloalkane</span> Group of chemical compounds derived from alkanes containing one or more halogens

The haloalkanes are alkanes containing one or more halogen substituents. They are a subset of the general class of halocarbons, although the distinction is not often made. Haloalkanes are widely used commercially. They are used as flame retardants, fire extinguishants, refrigerants, propellants, solvents, and pharmaceuticals. Subsequent to the widespread use in commerce, many halocarbons have also been shown to be serious pollutants and toxins. For example, the chlorofluorocarbons have been shown to lead to ozone depletion. Methyl bromide is a controversial fumigant. Only haloalkanes that contain chlorine, bromine, and iodine are a threat to the ozone layer, but fluorinated volatile haloalkanes in theory may have activity as greenhouse gases. Methyl iodide, a naturally occurring substance, however, does not have ozone-depleting properties and the United States Environmental Protection Agency has designated the compound a non-ozone layer depleter. For more information, see Halomethane. Haloalkane or alkyl halides are the compounds which have the general formula "RX" where R is an alkyl or substituted alkyl group and X is a halogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iodoform</span> Chemical compound

Iodoform is the organoiodine compound with the chemical formula CHI3. It is a pale yellow, crystalline, volatile substance, with a penetrating and distinctive odor and, analogous to chloroform, sweetish taste. It is occasionally used as a disinfectant.

An ylide or ylid is a neutral dipolar molecule containing a formally negatively charged atom (usually a carbanion) directly attached to a heteroatom with a formal positive charge (usually nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur), and in which both atoms have full octets of electrons. The result can be viewed as a structure in which two adjacent atoms are connected by both a covalent and an ionic bond; normally written X+–Y. Ylides are thus 1,2-dipolar compounds, and a subclass of zwitterions. They appear in organic chemistry as reagents or reactive intermediates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samarium(II) iodide</span> Chemical compound

Samarium(II) iodide is an inorganic compound with the formula SmI2. When employed as a solution for organic synthesis, it is known as Kagan's reagent. SmI2 is a green solid and forms a dark blue solution in THF. It is a strong one-electron reducing agent that is used in organic synthesis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phosphonium</span> Family of polyatomic cations containing phosphorus

In chemistry, the term phosphonium describes polyatomic cations with the chemical formula PR+
4
. These cations have tetrahedral structures. The salts are generally colorless or take the color of the anions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phosphorus trichloride</span> Chemical compound

Phosphorus trichloride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula PCl3. A colorless liquid when pure, it is an important industrial chemical, being used for the manufacture of phosphites and other organophosphorus compounds. It is toxic and reacts readily with water to release hydrogen chloride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phosphorus tribromide</span> Chemical compound

Phosphorus tribromide is a colourless liquid with the formula PBr3. The liquid fumes in moist air due to hydrolysis and has a penetrating odour. It is used in the laboratory for the conversion of alcohols to alkyl bromides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen iodide</span> Chemical compound

Hydrogen iodide (HI) is a diatomic molecule and hydrogen halide. Aqueous solutions of HI are known as hydroiodic acid or hydriodic acid, a strong acid. Hydrogen iodide and hydroiodic acid are, however, different in that the former is a gas under standard conditions, whereas the other is an aqueous solution of the gas. They are interconvertible. HI is used in organic and inorganic synthesis as one of the primary sources of iodine and as a reducing agent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triiodide</span> Ion

In chemistry, triiodide usually refers to the triiodide ion, I
3
. This anion, one of the polyhalogen ions, is composed of three iodine atoms. It is formed by combining aqueous solutions of iodide salts and iodine. Some salts of the anion have been isolated, including thallium(I) triiodide (Tl+[I3]) and ammonium triiodide ([NH4]+[I3]). Triiodide is observed to be a red colour in solution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1-Propanol</span> Primary alcohol compound

1-Propanol is a primary alcohol with the formula CH3CH2CH2OH and sometimes represented as PrOH or n-PrOH. It is a colourless liquid and an isomer of 2-propanol. 1-Propanol is used as a solvent in the pharmaceutical industry, mainly for resins and cellulose esters, and, sometimes, as a disinfecting agent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phosphite ester</span> Organic compound with the formula P(OR)3

In organic chemistry, a phosphite ester or organophosphite usually refers to an organophosphorous compound with the formula P(OR)3. They can be considered as esters of an unobserved tautomer phosphorous acid, H3PO3, with the simplest example being trimethylphosphite, P(OCH3)3. Some phosphites can be considered esters of the dominant tautomer of phosphorous acid (HP(O)(OH)2). The simplest representative is dimethylphosphite with the formula HP(O)(OCH3)2. Both classes of phosphites are usually colorless liquids.

Organophosphorus chemistry is the scientific study of the synthesis and properties of organophosphorus compounds, which are organic compounds containing phosphorus. They are used primarily in pest control as an alternative to chlorinated hydrocarbons that persist in the environment. Some organophosphorus compounds are highly effective insecticides, although some are extremely toxic to humans, including sarin and VX nerve agents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aluminium iodide</span> Chemical compound

Aluminium iodide is a chemical compound containing aluminium and iodine. Invariably, the name refers to a compound of the composition AlI
3
, formed by the reaction of aluminium and iodine or the action of HI on Al metal. The hexahydrate is obtained from a reaction between metallic aluminum or aluminum hydroxide with hydrogen iodide or hydroiodic acid. Like the related chloride and bromide, AlI
3
is a strong Lewis acid and will absorb water from the atmosphere. It is employed as a reagent for the scission of certain kinds of C-O and N-O bonds. It cleaves aryl ethers and deoxygenates epoxides.

Iodine compounds are compounds containing the element iodine. Iodine can form compounds using multiple oxidation states. Iodine is quite reactive, but it is much less reactive than the other halogens. For example, while chlorine gas will halogenate carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and sulfur dioxide, iodine will not do so. Furthermore, iodination of metals tends to result in lower oxidation states than chlorination or bromination; for example, rhenium metal reacts with chlorine to form rhenium hexachloride, but with bromine it forms only rhenium pentabromide and iodine can achieve only rhenium tetraiodide. By the same token, however, since iodine has the lowest ionisation energy among the halogens and is the most easily oxidised of them, it has a more significant cationic chemistry and its higher oxidation states are rather more stable than those of bromine and chlorine, for example in iodine heptafluoride.

Organophosphines are organophosphorus compounds with the formula PRnH3−n, where R is an organic substituent. These compounds can be classified according to the value of n: primary phosphines (n = 1), secondary phosphines (n = 2), tertiary phosphines (n = 3). All adopt pyramidal structures. Organophosphines are generally colorless, lipophilic liquids or solids. The parent of the organophosphines is phosphine (PH3).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethyl iodide</span> Chemical compound

Ethyl iodide (also iodoethane) is a colorless flammable chemical compound. It has the chemical formula C2H5I and is prepared by heating ethanol with iodine and phosphorus. On contact with air, especially on the effect of light, it decomposes and turns yellow or reddish from dissolved iodine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diphosphorus tetraiodide</span> Chemical compound

Diphosphorus tetraiodide is an orange crystalline solid with the formula P2I4. It has been used as a reducing agent in organic chemistry. It is a rare example of a compound with phosphorus in the +2 oxidation state, and can be classified as a subhalide of phosphorus. It is the most stable of the diphosphorus tetrahalides.

Organoiodine chemistry is the study of the synthesis and properties of organoiodine compounds, or organoiodides, organic compounds that contain one or more carbon–iodine bonds. They occur widely in organic chemistry, but are relatively rare in nature. The thyroxine hormones are organoiodine compounds that are required for health and the reason for government-mandated iodization of salt.

Phosphorus pentaiodide is a hypothetical inorganic compound with formula PI5. The existence of this compound has been claimed intermittently since the early 1900s. The claim is disputed: "The pentaiodide does not exist ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trimethylsilyl iodide</span> Chemical compound

Trimethylsilyl iodide (iodotrimethylsilane or TMSI) is an organosilicon compound with the chemical formula (CH3)3SiI. It is a colorless, volatile liquid at room temperature.

References

  1. GHS: Sigma-Aldsrich 241555
  2. L. G. Wade, Jr., Organic Chemistry, 6th ed., p. 477, Pearson/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, USA, 2005.
  3. J. N. Denis; A. Krief (1980). "Phosphorus tri-iodide (PI3), a powerful deoxygenating agent". J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. (12): 544–5. doi:10.1039/C39800000544.
  4. B. S. Furnell et al., Vogel's Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry, 5th edition, Longman/Wiley, New York, 1989.
  5. King, C. S.; Hartman, W. W. (1933). "Methyl Iodide". Organic Syntheses . 13: 60. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.013.0060 .