Chlorides, oxochlorides, and oxoacids of 1,8-diphosphanaphthalene: a system with imposed close p...p interaction.

Several new 1,8-diphosphanaphthalene oxochloro compounds and oxoacids were prepared and fully characterized. The new compounds are discussed in the broader context with other known congeners to demonstrate the variability of the diphosphanaphthalene scaffolding's bonding patterns. Three principal modes of interaction of the phosphorus moieties were observed in the series: bonding, bridging, and repulsive, resulting respectively in none, moderate, and substantial crowding and distortions. The unexpected dimeric diphosphaacenaphthene anion has been obtained from disproportionative hydrolysis of Nap(PCl(2))(2) (Nap = naphthalene-1,8-diyl).