Abstract Dibenzylmercury is a convenient and general reagant for the formation of homoatomic catenates from primary alkyl phosphines, arsines and stibines. From CH 3 PH 2, CH 3 AsH 2 and C 2 H 5 AsH 2, the products are Hg o and the cyclopentamers,(CH 3 P) 5,(CH 3 As) 5 and (C 2 H 5 As) 5, respectively. From CH 3 SbH 2, the solid, polymeric product,(CH 3 Sb) x, is obtained. With (CH 3) 2 AsH, both the condensation product,(CH 3) ...
