Valence Isomerization of a 1,3-Diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl: Photochemical Ring Closure to 2,4-diphosphabicyclo

The bond stretch isomer 1,3-diphosphacyclobutane-2,4-diyl 1 was transformed photochemically to give the previously unknown 2,4-diphosphabicyclo[1.1.0]butane 2, which itself can be converted thermally into gauche-1,4-diphosphabutadiene 3. The crystal structures of these three energy-rich valence isomers of 1,2-diphosphete have been determined. R=SiMe(3); Mes*=2,4,6-tBu(3)C(6)H(2).