Opening “Jaws”: Functionalisation of the hexaphosphapentaprismane cage, P6C4tBu4, affording X2P6C4tBu4 (X = Me, I), crystal and molecular structures of X2P6C4tBu4 (X = Me, I) and [cis-PtCl2Me2P6C4tBu4]

The hexaphosphapentaprismane cage, P6C4tBu4 (“Jaws”), can be readily opened by reaction with iodine at room temperature to afford the di-iodo derivative I2P6C4tBu4 which can be converted to the dimethyl derivative Me2P6C4tBu4 by treatment with LiMe. Me2P6C4tBu4 behaves as a bidentate ligand towards PtCl2. The molecular structures of all the new compounds have been determined by 31P and/or 195Pt NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.