Ring opening of a sterically crowded 1,2-oxaphosphetane complex.

The first example of a ring opening reaction of a 1,2-oxaphosphetane complex is reported, i.e., water in the presence of [Li(12-crown-4)]Cl furnished a C-OH functional phosphinito complex. Employment of the latter in ring forming reactions with Me2ECL2 (E = Si, Ge) using different nitrogen bases is also described.