REACTIONS OF AMINOPHOSPHINES WITH ALKYL THIOCYANATES. 1,2-BIS[(PHOSPHORANYLIDENE)-AMINO]TETRACYANOETHANES AND N2-ALKYLDICYANOMETHYL-N1-(HEXAETHYLTRIAMINOPHOSPHORANYLIDENE)-CYANOFORMAMIDINES

Abstract Reactions of hexaethyltriaminophosphine and tetraethyldiaminophenylphosphine with alkyl thiocyanates have been found to proceed in an unusual way and to give rise to the appropriate aminophosphine sulfides, alkyl cyanides, dialkyl sulfides and disulfides along with the formation of 1,2-bis[(phosphoranylidene)amino]tetracyanoethanes and N2-alkyldicyanomethyl-N1-(hexaethyltriamino-phosphoranylidene)cyanoformamidines. These reactions were assumed to take both a heterolytic and a homolytic course. X-Ray and mass spectral studies of the polycyanides obtained have been carried out.