Abstract
The synthesis of a range of monocyclic and bicyclic phosphoranes from the condensation of trico-ordinate phosphorus compounds with phenanthraquinone is reported together with their 31P, 1H and 13C nmr data. The phosphorus chemical shifts of these compounds range from +34 to -35 ppm but solvent effects on [sgrave]P and the retention of P–C coupling throughout the range indicate that all of these compounds are true phosphoranes.