Reductive cleavage of the halogen-phosphorus, oxygen-phosphorus and phosphorus-phosphorus bonds with alkali metals

The reduction of phosphorus acid chlorides as well as hypophosphates, pyrop hosphates and mixed P(III)-P(V) anhydrides with alkali metals (Li, Na, K) i n NH3 liq. / THF solution and potassium naphthalenide was investigated. It was found that this type of phosphorus compounds easily undergo reduction: a) >P(O)Cl to >P(O)H; b) >P(O)P(O)< to >P(O)H; C) >P(O)-O-P(O)< to >P(O)OH and >P(O)H; d) >P(O)-O-P< to >P(O)O- and >P-. The results of our experiment s strongly suggest that the mixed P(III)-P(V) anhydride is reduced by potas sium naphthalenide in THF with the cleavage of the P(III) - oxygen bond.