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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Preparation and Use of Carbonyl-decorated Carbenes in the Activation of White Phosphorus
Published on: October 3, 2014
Synthesis of the Phospha-Wittig Reagent Me3P = P(C2F5) and Generation of a Phospanyl-Wittig Derivative Me3P =
Lukas Hartmann1, Hannah Koch1, Julia Bader1
1Centrum für Molekulare Materialien, Fakultät für Chemie, Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany.
Abstract:
In this contribution, we report the synthesis of the diphosphane P2(C2F5)4 and cyclotetraphosphane (PC2F5)4 from the corresponding bromophosphanes P(C2F5)xBr3- x (x = 1, 2). The molecular structure of the cyclotetraphosphane was determined by x-ray diffraction analysis. Subsequent reaction of P2(C2F5)4 with trimethylphosphane (PMe3) afforded the phosphanyl-functionalized phosphorus ylide (Wittig reagent) Me3P = C(CF3)P(C2F5)F, whereas treatment of (PC2F5)4 with PMe3 yielded the base-stabilized phosphinidene Me3P = P(C2F5). The newly obtained species were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the molecular structures were determined by x-ray diffraction analysis. Me3P = C(CF3)P(C2F5)F as well as Me3P = P(C2F5) represent unique structural motifs that have not been observed within their respective substance class, underlining the remarkable versatility of perfluoroalkyl substituents.
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