Reaction of the Pincer‐type Ligand {2, 6‐[P(O)(OEt)2]2‐4‐tert‐Bu‐C6H2}— with [Ph3C]+[PF6]—. Unprecedented Rearrangement and Carbon‐Carbon Bond Formation

The reaction of the organolithium derivative {2, 6‐P(O)(OEt)₂]₂‐4‐tert‐Bu‐C₆H₂}Li ( 1 ‐Li) with Ph₃C]⁺PF₆]^— gave the substituted biphenyl derivative 4‐(C₆H₅)₂CH]‐4′‐tert‐Bu]‐2′, 6′‐P(O)(OEt)₂]₂‐1, 1′‐biphenyl ( 5 ) which was characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X‐ray analysis. Ab initio MO‐calculations reveal the intramolecular O···C distances in 5 of 2.952(4) and 2.988(5)Å being shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii of oxygen and carbon to be the result of crystal packing effects. Also reported are the synthesis and structure of the bromine‐substituted derivative {2, 6‐P(O)(OEt)₂]₂‐4‐tert‐Bu]C₆H₂}Br ( 9 ) and the structure of the protonated ligand 5‐tert‐Bu‐1, 3‐P(O)(OEt)₂]₂C₆H₃ ( 1 ‐H). The structures of 1 ‐H, 5 , and 9 are compared with those of related metal‐substituted derivatives.