Di-tert-butyldiphosphatetrahedrane as a building block for phosphaalkenes and phosphirenes

Abstract

The remarkable ‘mixed’ diphosphatetrahedrane (tBuCP)₂ (1) – which is both the elusive dimeric form of the phosphaalkyne tBuCP and an isolobal analogue of the important industrial feedstock P₄ – was recently isolated for the first time; however, its chemistry remains unexplored. Herein we report that treatment of 1 with various N-heterocyclic carbenes readily yields unusual, unsaturated organophosphorus motifs. These results demonstrate the significant potential of 1 as a building block for the synthesis of previously unknown organophosphorus compounds.