ORGANOPHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS .92. OXIDATION OF TETRAPHOSPHACUBANE BY BIS(TRIMETHYLSILYL) PEROXIDE, SULFUR, AND SELENIUM

Although the nucleophilicity/basicity at the phosphorus atom of the te traphosphacubane 2 is reduced, apparently owing to the participation o f the lone pairs of electrons in the P/C sigma bonds, stepwise oxidati on of the phosphorus atoms with bis(trimethylsilyl) peroxide or sulfur (in the presence of triethylamine) can be realized until all four pho sphorus atoms have reacted to give products 10-17. When 2 was treated with a large excess of selenium at 110 degrees C, only the triselenide 18 was obtained.