A Diazadiphospholenium Cation Featuring a Reactive P=P Bond: Synthesis and Reversible Main-Group Bond Activation

Abstract

We report a high-yielding synthesis of a novel diazadiphospholenium cation featuring a sterically exposed, reactive P=P bond. It displays aromatic properties and greater reactivity and selectivity than its parent diphosphene, enabling selective [4+2] cycloaddition and unusual, reversible E−E bond scission in diphenyldichalcogenides, highlighting its potential for main-group bond activation.