Reaction of a complexed phosphinidene with 2,4,6-tri-tert-butyl-1,3,5-triphosphabenzene

Chemistry. 2001 Aug 17;7(16):3545-50. doi: 10.1002/1521-3765(20010817)7:16<3545::aid-chem3545>3.0.co;2-0.

Abstract

The terminal phosphinidene complex PhPW(CO)5 reacts with 2,4,6-tri-tert-butyl-1,3,5-triphosphabenzene to give two unexpected multicyclic organophosphorus compounds. One of them results from an initial 1,2-addition, followed by an intramolecular rearrangement. B3LYP/6-31G* calculations on simplified parent systems suggest that the reaction follows a unique concerted reaction pathway. The second, and major, product is a tetraphosphaquadricyclane derivative, which presumably results from an intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition of an intermediate tetraphosphanorbornadiene complex. Single-crystal X-ray structures are presented for both products.