Protecting groups for stabilization of inter-element linkages

Various kinds of protective groups for stabilization of low-coordinated organophosphorus compounds are reviewed, in terms of steric effect and electronic effect, with some typical examples involving diphosphenes, phosphaalkenes, phosphaallenes, phosphabenzoquinones, diphosphinidenecyclobutenes, thioxophosphines, selenoxophosphines, dithioxophosphoranes, diselenoxophosphoranes, and phosphaalkynes. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.