Unusual addition reactions of lithium alkoxides to 2,4,6-tri-tert-butyl-1,3,5-triphosphabenzenePart 152 of the series of papers in Organophosphorus Compounds. For part 151, see: S. G. Ruf, J. Dietz and M. Regitz, Tetrahedron, 2000, 56, 6259.

Abstract

2,4,6-Tri-tert-butyl-1,3,5-triphosphabenzene (1) reacts selectively with a mixture of the primary lithium alkoxides 2a,b and the corresponding alcohols 3a,b to afford the novel 2,4,6-tri-tert-butyl-1,3,5-alkoxy-1,3,5-triphosphacyclohexane derivatives 4a,b; treatment of 4a with sulfur results in oxidation of all phosphorus atoms to furnish the triphosphane sulfide 5.