Transition Metal-Mimicking Relay Catalysis by a Low-Valent Phosphorus Compound

Low-valent main group species have been evolving as powerful alternatives to transition metals over the years due to their advantages such as low toxicity and high abundance. However, the inability of main group elements to mimic the redox-switching property of transition metals often limits their role as catalysts. Here, we demonstrate the use of a low-valent phosphorus(I) compound as an efficient metal-free catalyst for the synthesis of biologically relevant γ-butyrolactones through dual activation under ambient reaction conditions. The highly nucleophilic phosphorus(I) center plays a key role in leading to this transformation. Extensive experimental and theoretical studies suggest that the phosphorus center exhibits facile switching between its reduced state P(I) and its oxidized state P(III) during this transformation, mimicking the behavior of transition metals.