Novel 2-Phosphabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene Derivatives and Their Use in Phosphinylations

The [4 + 2] cycloaddition of the double-bond isomers (A and B) of dihydrophosphinine oxide 1 afforded novel phosphabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene derivates (2–4), formation of which was justified by PM3 semiempirical calculations. The compounds of dimer type (2–4) were utilized in the UV light-mediated fragmentation-related phosphinylation of nucleophiles, especially in that of alcohols. To explore the role of structural modifications on the fragmentation ability, disulfide 5, phosphabicyclooctane 7 obtained by the hydrogenation of 2, and the adduct of dihydrophosphinine oxide 1 with benzoquinone (7) were also synthesized and tested in fragmentation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 15:97–106, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10221