Exploring the Reactivity of Donor-Stabilized Phosphenium Cations: Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Reduction of Chlorophosphanes by Silanes.

Phosphane-stabilized phosphenium cations react with silanes to effect either reduction to primary or secondary phosphanes, or formation of P-P bonded species depending upon counteranion. This operates for in situ generated phosphenium cations, allowing catalytic reduction of P(III)-Cl bonds in the absence of strong reducing agents. Anion and substituent dependence studies have allowed insight into the competing mechanisms involved.