Controlling the Activation of White Phosphorus: Formation of Phosphorous Acid and Ruthenium‐Coordinated 1‐Hydroxytriphosphane by Hydrolysis of Doubly Metalated P4

Successfully tamed: When coordinated to two {CpRu(PPh3)2} moieties, white phosphorus (P4) reacts selectively with a large excess of water to yield phosphorous acid (H3PO3) and the previously unknown 1-hydroxytriphosphane (PH(OH)PHPH2), which is stabilized as a bridging ligand by coordination to the ruthenium moieties (see scheme).