STEREOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE 1-CHLORO-1- PHENYL-2,5-DIMETHYL-2-PHOSPHOLENIUM ION AND DERIVED OXIDE AND PHOSPHINE

Abstract

The cycloaddition of phenylphosphonous dichloride and trans, trans-2,4-hexadiene, or the addition of chlorine to trans-1-phenyl-cis-2,5-dimethyl-3-phospholene, gave 1-chloro-1-phenyl-2,5-dimethyl-2-phospholenium chloride. This compound shows no evidence in its ³¹P and ¹H nmr spectra for the existence of cis, trans isomers, yet on hydrolysis or dehalogenation with magnesium the resulting oxide and phosphine, respectively, are seen to be isomer mixtures. This phenomenon is explained by a rapid equilibration of the cis, trans form of the I-chloro ion through a pentacovalent species. Structures of the oxides and phosphines were assigned by ¹H and ¹³C nmr relations. The 1-phenyl-cis-2,5-dimethyl-3-phospholenium ion and related compounds were also characterized.