Rhodium-catalyzed thiophosphinylation and phosphinylation reactions of disulfides and diselenides

Alkyl and aryl dithiophosphinates were synthesized by the reaction of disulfides with biphosphine disulfides in the presence of RhH(PPh3)4 and 1,2-diphenylphosphinoethane (dppe). The catalyst also promoted synthesis of thiophosphinates and selenothiophosphinates from disulfides and diselenides.