SYNTHESIS OF ALKYLCYCLOPHOSPHANES FROM RED PHOSPHORUS - MOLECULAR-STRUCTURE OF I-PR4P4 BY GAS ELECTRON-DIFFRACTION

A polyphosphide of the type (NaP)(x) 1 was obtained from red phosphoru s and sodium in presence of small amounts of naphthalene in 1,2-dimeth oxyethane as solvent. 1 reacts with alkyl halides in dependence on the kind of alkyl group with formation of different alkylcyclophosphanes. As definite compounds Me5P5 2, Et5P5 3 (With not definite constitutio n), i-Pr4P4 4 and t-Eu4P4 5 could be isolated. 1 was identified by X-r ay diffraction, 2-5 by means of their H-1, C-13, P-31 n.m.r. and mass spectra. The molecular structure of 4 was identified by electron diffr action.