Hexacoordinate phosphates bearing an oxaphosphetane ring: Characterization and stereomutation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(96)02368-4

The reaction of a β-hydroxyspirophosphorane (4) bearing Martin ligands with base was found to give a hexacoordinate phosphate (isomer 1), which eventually isomerized to another phosphate (isomer 2). Kinetic examination of the stereomutation process implied that it involved P-O bond heterolysis as the rate determining step. This was assumed to be followed by pseudorotation and P-O bond formation.