Cubane and step-form structures of dilithium bis(aryloxy)phosphines.

The lithium complexes RP(3,5-tBu2C6H2OLi)2(THF)4, where R = Ph or i Pr, (R[OPO]Li2)2(THF)4, synthesized by reaction of the 2-bromo-4,6-di-tert-butylphenol with BuLi and the appropriate dichlorophosphine, possess solid state structures composed of lithium oxide tetragons arranged in a step-form or face sharing half-cubane arrangements. Incorporation of excess lithium aryloxide results in the formation of complexes that display an extended step-form structure, [Ph[OPO]Li2(ArOLi)]2, or a distorted cubane arrangement of tetragons, iPr[OPO]Li3Cl(ArOLi)3.