[[HC(CMeNAr)(2)](2)Al(2)P(4)] (Ar=2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)): a reduction to a formal [P(4)](4-) charged species.

The chemistry of white phosphorus has generated much interest over the past decades owing to its unique tetrahedral structure and variable bonding situation. Organophosphorus compounds can be used as reagents and as ligands for innumerable complexes in catalytic processes. The reactions of transition-metal complexes with white phosphorus have been extensively studied and have resulted in a large variety of Px ligands with unpredictable structures. [3] Among them, only one compound [Cp*2(CO)2Co2P4] (Cp*=C5Me5) [4] with a {P4} 4 species is reported. However, the reactions of the P4 molecule with main-group complexes are limited to a few examples, [(AlCp*)6P4], [5a] [(GaR)3P4] (R= (SiMe3)3C), [5b]