Charge density study of the first mixed-valent tetraphosphete

The first λ³,λ⁵-tetraphosphete contains a 4π-electron four-membered ring as the central structural unit of a dispirocyclic system and can thus be classified as an analogue to diphosphetes and cyclodiphosphazenes. According to its crystal structure the central P₄ unit exhibits not only P–P bonds which are of equal length (P1–P2 2,139(1) Å, P1–P2A 2,142(1) Å), but also rhombic distortion (P1–P2–P1A 79,4(1)⁰, P2–P1–P2A 100,6(1)⁰).[1] Therefore its electronic structure cannot be described as 'Phosphacyclobutadiene' but either as a bis(ylide) or as a system with delocalized double bonds. After various quantum chemical calculations and an extensive examination of its reaction and coordination behavior failed to answer this question, we addressed the problem via a detailed analysis of its charge density distribution. The experimental charge density based on high resolution X-ray diffraction data collected at low temperature is determined by multipole least squares refinement using the program package XD2006.[2] In a first step, the static deformation density exhibits charge density which is located mainly outside of the P₄ ring plane at the λ³-phosphorus atoms but simultaneously redistributed into the P–P bond area. In addition to that, a study of its topological properties and an inspection of the Laplacian of the electron density according to Bader's `Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules' (QTAIM)[3] further highlight the bonding features. They reveal polar Si–N, Si–C and P–N bonds with a decreasing amount of electrostatic contribution as well as four valence shell charge concentrations (thus sp³ hybridization) at each of the phosphorus atoms. Finally supported by theoretical calculations, the results illustrate the unique bonding situation in the P₄ unit combining a high ylidic character with unusual not exclusively sigma-like P–P bonds.