What is "phosphatrioxa-adamantane"

Phosphatrioxa-adamantane is an organophosphorus compound that is used as a precursor to bulky phosphine ligands. Abbreviated CgPH (for cage phosphine), it is a white solid.

The compound is prepared by the condensation of two equivalents of acetylacetone and phosphine:

PH + 2 CHC(O)CHC(O)CH → HP(CHCCHCCH)O + HO

The condensation is sometimes called the Buckler–Epstein reaction. Many diketones can be employed in place of acetylacetone. The P-H bond can be further derivitized, leading to a range of tertiary phosphines of potential value in homogeneous catalysis.