Metal coordination polymers. II. Molecular weight studies of beryllium phosphinate polymers in toluene

The number-average molecular weights of beryllium 4-biphenyl(phenyl)phosphinate, di-n-pentylphosphinate, di-n-heptylphosphinate, and trifluoromethyl(phenyl)phosphinate are degraded by the presence of water in toluene. It is proposed that easily hydrolyzable P? O? P bonds contribute, in part, to the bonding of these polymers.