The compound 5-chorodibenzophosphole reacts with an equivalent amount or an excess of Al2Cl6 in methylene chloride solution to afford the respective tetraorganodiphosphorus cations [R(2)P(Cl)PR(2)][AlCl4] (R(2) = o,o'-dibenzophenylato), 1. However, reaction of t-Bu(2)PCl with an equivalent amount or an excess of Al2Cl6 in CH2Cl2 gives rise to a phosphonium ion, [t-Bu(2)PCl(2)][AlCl4] (2) as the major product, while reaction with 0.5 equivalent Al2Cl6 leads to a mixture of cationic organophosphorus species. In addition, the compound 5-chloro-bis-carboranylphosphole (3) was synthesized. Compound 3 fails to react with Al2Cl6 or GaCl3, yet does afford 5-fluoro-bis-carboranylphosphole (4) upon treatment with AgSbF6. The molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been determined from X-ray structural analysis. The former consists of a planar P(III) heterocyclic moiety joined to an essentially tetrahedral P(TV) heterocycle by a single P-P bond. The charge is balanced by the heptachlorodialuminate ion. Compound 1 crystallized in the triclinic space group
with a = 10.5798(8) Angstrom, b = 11.3656(9) Angstrom, = 13.8190(11) Angstrom, alpha = 107.985(3)degrees, beta = 100.9135(2)degrees, gamma = 103.636(2)degrees, V = 1478 Angstrom(3), Z = 2, R = 0.047. Compound 2 crystallized in the monoclinic space group, P2(1) with a = 7.2471(8) Angstrom, b = 12.0235(12) Angstrom, c = 9.9651(11) Angstrom, beta = 90.473(3)degrees, V = 868 Angstrom(3) Z = 2, R = 0.109.