Does a sterically bulky group occupy the equatorial site in trigonal bipyramidal phosphorus?

Abstract

[structure: see text] The sterically bulky tert-butyl group occupies an apical position in trigonal bipyramidal phosphorus in the compound [CH2(6-t-Bu-4-Me-C6H2O)2]P(t-Bu)(1,2-O2C6Cl4) in contrast to the occupation of an equatorial position by the small methyl group in [CH2(6-t-Bu-4-Me-C6H2O)2]P(Me)(1,2-O2C6Cl4); this observation contradicts the familiar "apicophilicity rules" for trigonal bipyramidal phosphorus. Low-temperature solution 31P NMR spectra of [CH2(6-t-Bu-4-Me-C6H2O)2]P(R)(1,2-O2C6Cl4) (R = Me, Et, and n-Bu) show the presence of more than two isomers.