tert-Butyldichlorophosphane: crystal structure and its reactivity towards supersilyl sodium

Abstract Crystals of tBuPCl2 were obtained by a short-path sublimation at 80 °C/0.150 mbar. The structure determination of tBuPCl2 was based on X-ray powder data. The measurements were carried out in a temperature range from 173 K to r. t. At 173 K the X-ray powder pattern has been assigned to an orthorhombic phase, and that at 213 K to a plastic-crystalline, cubic phase. We further investigated the reactivity of tBuPCl2 towards Na(thf)2[SitBu3] at ambient temperature. The reaction of tBuPCl2 with two equivalents of Na(thf)2[SitBu3] gave together with tBu3SiCl the yet unknown phosphanediide Na2[PtBu] by a chlorine-sodium exchange. The identity of Na2[PtBu] was confirmed by 31P NMR spectroscopy and its existence was unambiguously demonstrated by its protonation with methanol and the consequent formation of tBuPH2.