A diazadiphospholenium cation featuring a reactive PP 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 PP 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.