page_title: Phosphorus trioxide
section_title: As a ligand
hierarchical_section_title: Phosphorus trioxide / As a ligand
caption_attribution_description: English: An adduct of phosphorus oxide with BH3, formed by reacting phosphorus trioxide with dimethyl sulfide-borane complex in toluene solution at 244K
context_page_description: Phosphorus trioxide is the chemical compound with the molecular formula P₄O₆. Although the molecular formula suggests the name tetraphosphorus hexoxide, the name phosphorus trioxide preceded the knowledge of the compound's molecular structure, and its usage continues today. This colorless solid is structurally related to adamantane. It is formally the anhydride of phosphorous acid, H₃PO₃, but cannot be obtained by the dehydration of the acid. It is a white, waxy, crystalline and highly toxic solid with garlic odour.
context_section_description: P₄O₆ is a ligand for transition metals, comparable to phosphite. An illustrative complex is P₄O₆·Fe(CO)₄. 
  With BH₃, a dimeric adduct is produced:
caption: Structure of P8O12(BH3)2.
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