FWF - Silylierte Heptaphosphan - Silylated heptaphosphanes and heptaarsanes

The project envisages the synthesis of heptaphosphanortricyclenes P7R3 with sterically demanding oligosilyl substituents R such as -Si(SiMe3)3, -Si(SiMe3)2Si(SiMe3)3 or -SiMe2Si(SiMe3)3, as well as germyl and stannyl substituents such as Ge(SiMe3)3 and Sn(SiMe3)3. The heptaphosphanes will be prepared from red phosphorus, sodium/potassium alloy and the halogenated oligosilanes ClR. Various reactions of the heptaphosphanortricyclenes P7R3 will be investigated, attempting the synthesis of functionalized cages P7R2X and P7RX2 with X an alkaline metal, a halogen or hydrogen. Reactions of these functionalized cages will be investigated. SiSi-bonds of oligosilyl groups can be cleaved at temperatures as low as -60 degrees Celsius, with comcomitant formation of silylenes or disilenes. Therefore, silylenes and disilenes will be generated from the cages by reaction with tertiarybutyl potassium oxide, and insertion reactions into phosphorus phosphorus bonds will be studied.