An approach towards the synthesis of lithium and beryllium diphenylphosphinites.

The diphenylphosphinites [(THF)Li(OPPh2)]4 and [(THF)2Be(OPPh2)2] have been synthesized via direct deprotonation of diphenylphosphine oxide with nBuLi and BePh2, respectively, as well as via salt metathesis. These compounds were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and the side-products of the reactions obtained under various reaction conditions have been identified. The beryllium derivative could not be isolated and decomposed into diphosphine oxide Ph2PP(O)Ph2. The solid-state structure of this final product together with that of [(THF)Li(OPPh2)]4 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]