An Air-Stable Storage Compound for White Phosphorus: Reversible Addition to a Stannylene and Chemical Release of P₄

Controlled insertion into a single P-P bond of white phosphorus (P₄) was achieved by employing a diaryl stabilized stannylene, Ar*₂Sn (Ar*=2,6-bis(benzhydryl)-4-iPr-phenyl). Conversions of the stannylene with P₄ gave a non-pyrophoric, air-stable storage compound, which releases P₄ quantitively upon irradiation with light (354 or 455 nm). Alternatively, the phosphorus cage is detached by reacting the storage compound with PhChChPh (Ch=Se, Te). Despite the recent advances in the directed conversion of P₄ using main group element compounds, Ar*₂Sn constitutes only the second structurally characterized example of a stannylene capable of performing controlled, reversible addition and release of white phosphorus.