Crystallographic characterization of a stable 7‐phosphanorbornadiene‐7‐oxide: 2,3‐benzo‐1,4,5,6,7‐pentaphenyl‐7‐phosphabicyclo[2.2.1] hepta‐2,5‐diene‐7‐oxide

The stable 7‐phosphanorbornadiene derivative, 2,3‐benzo‐1,4,5,6,7‐pentaphenyl‐7‐phosphabicyclo2.2.1]hepta‐2,5‐diene‐7‐oxide ( 1 ) was synthesized in 45% yield via the Diels‐Alder reaction of pentaphenylphosphole oxide and benzyne. The reaction occurs specifically to give a single isomer, which was characterized by use of X‐ray crystallography and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 11:182–186, 2000