2, 6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenyl phosphenite (ArOP= O) was released into the gas phase on heating a neat sample of a 7-phosphanorbornene derivative 6 bearing this aryloxy substituent at 300" C (0.01 mm). Attempts to prepare 1-adamantyl phosphenite similarly were not successful. Irradiation of 6 in 1, 2-dichloroethane at 254 nm failed to cause release of the phosphenite, but when some alcohol was present fragmentation proceeded readily ...