Rare phosphorus dication synthesised

Molecular electrostatic potential map of pentamethylcyclopentadienyl phosphorus dication

Source: © 2018 Elsevier Inc

Unusual main group species is a Lewis superacid

Researchers in Canada have synthesised an unusual species featuring a phosphorus dication bound to a pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligand. The way by which the phosphorus coordinates to the ligand mimics that more commonly seen in cyclopentadienyl complexes of transition metals.