Reductive phosphine-mediated ligation of nitroxyl (HNO).

Nitroxyl (HNO) demonstrates a unique chemical and biological profile compared to nitric oxide (NO). Phosphorus NMR studies reveal that HNO reacts with triarylphosphines to give the corresponding phosphine oxide and aza-ylide. In the presence of a properly situated electrophilic ester, the aza-ylide undergoes a Staudinger ligation to yield an amide with the nitrogen atom being derived from HNO. These results define new HNO reactivity and provide the basis of new HNO detection methods.