Über die Oxo‐cyclotetraphosphane (PBut)4O1–4

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 243 On the Oxocyclotetraphosphanes (PBu^t)₄O_1–4 Under suitable conditions, the reaction of tetra‐tert‐butylcyclotetraphosphane, (PBu^t)₄, with dry atmospheric oxygen gives rise to the corresponding monoxide (PBu^t)₄O ( 1 ) which has been isolated by column chromatography. The reaction with hydrogen peroxide furnishes a mixture of oxocyclotetraphosphanes (PBu^t)₄O_1–4 consisting of two constitutionally isomeric dioxides (PBu^t)₄O₂ ( 2 a , 2 b ), the trioxide (PBu^t)₄O₃ ( 3 ), and the tetraoxide (PBu^t)₄O₄ ( 4 ), in addition to 1 . According to the ³¹P NMR parameters the oxygen atoms are exclusively exocyclically bonded to the phosphorus four‐membered ring. Which of the P atoms are present as λ⁵‐phosphorus follows from the different low‐field shifts of the individual P nuclei compared with the starting compound. Accordingly, 1 is 1,2,3,4‐Tetra‐tert‐butyl‐1‐oxocyclotetraphosphane, 2 a and 2 b are 1,2,3,4‐Tetra‐tert‐butyl‐1,2‐dioxo‐ and ‐1,3‐dioxocyclotetraphosphane, respectively, 3 is 1,2,3,4‐Tetra‐tert‐butyl‐1,2,3‐trioxocyclotetraphosphane, and 4 is 1,2,3,4‐Tetra‐tert‐butyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetraoxocyclotetraphosphane. When the oxidation reaction proceeds a fission of the P₄ ring takes place.