Triphenylmethyl tris(p-methoxyphenyl)phosphonium cation: a structurally characterized phosphonium analog of hexaphenylethane

Reaction of tris(p-methoxyphenyl)phosphine with [Ph3C][B(ArF)4] [ArF=3,5-(CF3)2C6H3] afforded [Ph3CP(4-OMeC6H4)3][B(ArF)4], a structural analog of hexaphenylethane, which shows a very long P–C distance [1.931(3) A] in the solid state, indicating a strong steric repulsive interaction between the two parts of the phosphonium cation.