First synthesis of pentacoordinated phosphirenes

Abstract 1-Halo- and 1-cyano-1 H -phosphirenes 8a - d react with tetrachloro- o -quinone ( 9 ) by oxidative addition at phosphorus to furnish the previously unknown title compounds 10a – d . The chlorine atom in the pentacoordinated phosphirene 10a undergoes nucleophilic exchange reactions yielding 1Oc – e .