Studies on the interaction of phosphine selenides and their structural analogues wth dihalogens and sulfuryl chloride

The phosphine selenides, tris(dimethylamino)phosphine selenide, esters of selenophosphoric acid, and esters of selenophosphonic acid react with dihalogens and sulfuryl chloride to form halogenoselenophosphonium salts (P–SeX)+X−. The latter undergo deselenization via ligand exchange to form phosphonium salts (P–X)+X− and elemental selenium. The stability of these salts depends on the substituents at the phosphorus atom and the type of counter ion. It is likely that the phosphonium salts are in equilibrium with the corresponding phosphoranes, and this is demonstrated for esters containing an o-phenylene ligand. The structures of phosphonium salts, phosphoranes and other phosphorus compounds are supported by 31P NMR spectroscopy data and electrical conductivity. Additional evidence comes from addition reactions of halogenoselenophosphonium salts to cyclohexene.