CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHEMISTRY OF PHOSPHORUS .237. ON THE REACTION OF DIPHOSPHANE(4) WITH PEROXO COMPOUNDS - FORMATION OF PHOSPHINOPHOSPHINIC ACID, H2PPH(O)OH, AND BIS(PHOSPHINO)PHOSPHINIC ACID, (H2P)(2)P(O)OH

Diphosphane(4) reacts with peroxo compounds such as hydrogen peroxide, tetraline hydroperoxide, trifluoroperoxyacetic acid, and cumene hydroperoxide (which is particularly suited for preparative work) at -30 degrees C to furnish phosphinophosphinic acid, H2PPH(O)OH (1), as the primary product. Compound 1 disproportionates to a major extent in statu nascendi to give phosphanes (above all PH3) and monophosphorus acids of various oxidation states as well as some bis(phosphino)phosphinic acid, (H2P)(2)P(O)OH (2). The acids 1 and 2 can be trapped and stabilized as their triethylammonium salts. The structures of these salts have been determined by spectroscopic investigations.