Abstract
The reaction of organophosphorus disulfides with trialkylsilylcyanide has been investigated. It provided direct evidence for the intermediacy of thiocyanidate >P(X)SCN, X=O, S in this type of reaction. The disulfides studied involved phosphoryl, phosphonyl and/or phosphinyl disulfides. They have been shown to follow the common mechanism. The studied reaction of thiophosphoryl disulfides with trimethylsilylcyanide represents a new and highly efficient route to tetraalkylpyrophosphoro-trithioates.