A Tricyclic Hexaphosphane.

The reaction of the functionalized cyclo-tetraphosphane [ClP(μ-PMes*)]2 (Mes*=2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl) with different Lewis bases led to the formation of an unprecedented tricyclic hexaphosphane, Mes*P6 Mes*. The formation of this compound was investigated by spectroscopic and theoretical methods, revealing an unusual ring expansion reaction. The title compound was fully characterized by experimental and computational methods.