Mixed-valence diphosphorus compounds

Abstract

Abstract We have reported in 1981/821,2 the symmetric diphosphorylation of N.N′-dimethyl-N.N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)urea, 1, with methyl dichlorophosphine. Dechlorination of the resulting product, 2a, led to the formation of a bridged diphosphine, 3a, which, in turn, served as a precursor to the synthesis of various mixed valence (λ3Pλ4P and λ3Pλ5P) diphosphorus compounds, as a result of selective oxidative addition at one of the two λ3 phosphorus atoms which leaves the P-P bond intact