(Biphenyl-2,2′-diyl)di-tert-butylphosphonium trifluoromethanesulfonate

To aid in the elucidation of catalytic reaction mechanism of palladacycles, we found that reaction of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid with a phosphapalladacycle resulted in elimination of the palladium and formation of the title phospholium salt, C20H26P⁺·CF₃SO ₃ ^-. Selected geometrical parameters include P - biphenyl (av.) = 1.801 14;(3) 14;Å and P - t-Bu (av.) = 1.858 14;(3) 14;Å, and significant distortion of the tetrahedral P-atom environment with biphenyl - P - biphenyl = 93.93 14;(13)° and t-Bu - P - t-Bu = 118.82 14;(14)°. In the crystal, weak C - HO interactions lead to channels along the c axis that are occupied by CF3SO3 ^- anions.