Selective heterolytic P–P bond cleavage of white phosphorus by a frustrated carbene-borane Lewis pair?

Dalton Transactions Pub Date: 2010-10-08 DOI: 10.1039/C0DT01045F

Abstract

Frustrated carbene-borane Lewis pairs are able to affect the selective cleavage of one of the six P–P bonds in white phosphorus (P4) to afford an adduct, in which an abnormal carbene of the imidazolium-4-yl type and B(C6F5)3 are bound in a trans,trans fashion to a butterfly-like bicyclo[1.1.0]tetraphosphabutane moiety.

Graphical abstract: Selective heterolytic P–P bond cleavage of white phosphorus by a frustrated carbene-borane Lewis pair
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