Reaction of 3,6-di(tert-butyl)-1,2-benzoquinone with terminal alkylacetylenes in the presence of phosphorus trichloride

A reaction of 3,6-di(tert-butyl)-1,2-benzoquinone with alkynes in the presence of phosphorus trichloride leads to a predominant formation of 4-alkyl- and 4-haloalkyl-5,8-di(tert-butyl)-2,6-dichloro-2 H- benzo[e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 2-oxide. An ipso-substitution of the tert-butyl group at ortho-position to the oxygen atom of the benzophosphinine system with the formation of 4-alkyl-5- tert-butyl-2,8-dichloro-2 H-benzo[e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 2-oxide was the minor route of the reaction with alkylacetylenes. Molecular structures of 4-butyl-5,8-di( tert-butyl)-2,6-dichloro-2 H- benzo[e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 2-oxide and 5,8-di( tert-butyl)-2,6-dichloro-4-hexyl-2 H-benzo[e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 2-oxide were studied by X-ray analysis.