THE SEARCH FOR PHOSPHINOBORANES - A MATRIX-ISOLATION STUDY

Merged jet copyrolysis reactions of diborane, B2H6, with PH3, (CH3)3P and PF3 were attempted, followed by trapping into argon matrices. Contrary to previous studies of the reactions of B2H6 with nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur bases, only the H3B . P (CH3)3 adduct was observed, with no further elimination products. The lack of observation of the H3B . PH3 and H3B . PF3 adducts under these conditions indicates that the equilibrium constant for adduct formation is very small at room temperature. The absence of H-2 or HF elimination products (e.g. H2BPH2) provides indirect support for the previously proposed reaction mechanism involving initial adduct formation.