The efficient fourfold radical phosphanylation of 2,2,2′,2′‐tetrabromobiphenyl with a bis(stannyl)phosphane followed by oxidation produces a highly strained biphenyl with two phosphoryl bridges (see picture). Extended π‐conjugated compounds consisting of this core unit can be also synthesized by using the same approach. The two phosphoryl bridges significantly alter the electronic structure, making this biphenyl a unique electron‐accepting scaffold.

The rate constant for phosphanylation of an aryl radical with trimethylstannyl diphenylphosphane (Me(3)SnPPh(2)) has been measured as k(phos) approximately 9 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1). Aryl radicals derived from several axially chiral o-haloanilides are trapped by Me(3)SnPPh(2) with complete retention of axial chirality as shown by oxidation of the phosphanes to give stable, easily analyzed phosphane oxides or sulfides. Double phosphanylations of o,o'-dihaloanilides followed by treatment with H(2)O(2) or S(8) in either order give enantiomers of a mixed diphosphane oxide sulfide. Chemodivergent trapping of diastereomers of an N-(cyclohex-2-enyl)anilide anilide is observed. For one isomer, the cyclization precedes the Me(3)SnPPh(2) trapping, while for the other isomer direct trapping with Me(3)SnPPh(2) supersedes the cyclization. The products are chiral triaryl phosphanes, oxides, and sulfides that are potentially interesting ligands in asymmetric catalysis.

We report a protocol for branched-selective hydroacylation of vinylphenols with aryl, alkenyl and alkyl aldehydes. This cross-coupling yields α-aryl ketones that can be cyclized to benzofurans, and it enables access to eupomatenoid natural products in four steps or less from eugenol. Excellent reactivity and high levels of branched regioselectivity are obtained. We propose that aldehyde decarbonylation is overcome by using an anionic directing group on the olefin and a small bite-angle diphosphine ligand.