- Source: Phosphatrioxa-adamantane
Phosphatrioxa-adamantane is an organophosphorus compound that is used as a precursor to bulky phosphine ligands. Abbreviated CgPH (for cage phosphine), it is a white solid.
The compound is prepared by the condensation of two equivalents of acetylacetone and phosphine:
PH3 + 2 CH3C(O)CH2C(O)CH3 → HP(CH3CCH2CCH3)2O3 + H2O
The condensation is sometimes called the Buckler–Epstein reaction. Many diketones can be employed in place of acetylacetone. The P-H bond can be further derivatized, leading to a range of tertiary phosphines of potential value in homogeneous catalysis.
