Although 1,2σ5λ5-oxaphosphetanes have been known for a long time, the "low-coordinate" 1,2σ3λ3-oxaphosphetanes have only been known since their first synthesis in 2018 via decomplexation. Apart from ligation of this P-heterocycle to gold(I)chloride and the oxidation using ortho-chloranil, nothing on their chemistry has been reported so far. Herein, we describe the synthesis of new 1,2σ3λ3-oxaphosphetane complexes (3a-e) and free derivatives (4a-e), as well as reactions of 4a with chalcogens and/or chalcogen transfer reagents, which yielded the P-chalcogenides (14-16a; Ch = O, S, Se). We also report on the theoretical results of the reaction pathways of C-phenyl-substituted 1,2 σ3λ3-oxaphosphetanes and ring strain energies of 1,2σ4λ5-oxaphosphetane P-chalcogenides.
Keywords: P-chalcogenides; oxaphosphetanes; oxidation; phosphorous heterocycles; strained molecules.