Abstract
Addition of triphenylphosphine to 2,3,5,6-tetracyano-7-oxabicyclo-[2.2.1]hepta-2.5-diene yielded blue crystals of 1,2,4,5-tetracyano-5-formylpenta-2,4-dienylidenetriphenylphosphorane (9). the structure of which was elucidated by X-ray crystallography. The unique molecular packing in the unit cell provides ready explanation for the transformation of 9 in the solid state into 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (12).