The First Ozonide of a Phosphorus Oxide-Preparation, Characterization, and Structure of P4O18

They do indeed exist, but not as expected: binary peroxide compounds of phosphorus. Whereas the peroxide P2O6 described by Schenk in 1937 still remains a presumption, the reaction of phosphorus(III) oxide with ozone at low temperature has led to the tetraozonide P4O18 (see picture), the first defined binary peroxo compound of phosphorus. This is the oxygen‐richest phosphorus compound known to date, and possibly could be used as a source for the generation of singlet oxygen under very mild conditions.