THE REACTION OF TERMINAL PHOSPHINIDENE COMPLEXES WITH PHOSPHAALKENES - THERMAL SYMMETRIZATION OF DIPHOSPHIRANES WITH ASYMMETRIC SUBSTITUTION PATTERNS

The reaction of transient phosphinidene pentacarbonyltungsten complexe s with phosphaalkenes at 120-degrees-C, in toluene directly yields the corresponding uncomplexed 1,2-diphosphiranes. A 1-chloro-2-phenyl-1,2 -diphosphirane, thus obtained, is transformed upon further heating at 120-degrees-C into the symmetrical 1,2-diphenyl derivative via an unkn own mechanism.