Unsubstituted and trimethyl-4,8-diphosphathiophenetriptycenes (4 and 3
d) were synthesized by reduction of the corresponding phosphine oxides
(8a and 8b) with trichlorosilane which were prepared by the reaction
of trilithium salts, derived from tri-3-thienylphosphine oxides (7a an
d 7b), with P(OPh)(3). The reaction of 3d with W(CO)(5)(THF) gave a 1:
2 complex 12 in high yield.