Abstract
The reactions of 1-(lithio·DME) salts of two 1,3,2,4-diphosphadiboretanes with R2ECl2 reagents have been examined. Under most conditions, this chemistry provides precursors to novel cage compounds P2(BNR′2)2ER2, although in some cases soluble oligomers are formed when the intermediate species undergo dehydrohalogenation.