A surprisingly straightforward cyclotetramerization of tBuC ≡ P in the coordination sphere of an η8-cyclooctatertraene–zirconium complex yields 1,3,5,7-tetraphosphabarrelen 1. The bicyclic compound is initially bound to the Zr atom through two PC bonds, but can easily be liberated from the complex by reaction with hexachloroethane.
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Binger et al. (1995) studied this question.