Diphenyl-(2-trifluoromethyl)phosphine oxide was metalated next to the
diphenylphosphinoyl group with LITMP. Upon iodination and Ullmann coup
ling, the corresponding 3,3'-disubstituted bis(phosphine oxide) was ob
tained. When phenyl-lithium was used as metalating agent, aryl/phenyl
group exchange occurred. The torsional barrier for the planarization o
f the biaryl moiety was equal to 22+/-1 kcal/mol.