1,2-Bis(diphenyl-phosphino)-1,2-diethyl-hydrazine.

The title compound, C(28)H(30)N(2)P(2), adopts a well documented and studied gauche conformation around the hydrazine bond. Bond lengths and angles are in the typical ranges expected for P-N and P-C bonds. A normal hydrazine N-N bond length of 1.426 (3) Šis observed.

1,2,4,5-Tetra-methyl-3,6-diphenyl-1,2,4,5-tetra-aza-3,6-diphosphinane.

The title compound, C(16)H(22)N(4)P(2), crystallizes about a centre of symmetry, leading to a chair conformation of the heterocyclic ring as is commonly found for this type of compound.

Highly functionalised cyclobutanols via samarium(II) iodide-induced pinacol cyclisations of carbohydrate-derived 1,4-diketones.

D-Ribofuranose and D-arabinofuranose derivatives were converted in a few steps into their 1,4-diketone derivatives, which were pinacol cyclised under the action of SmI2 to form the corresponding chiral cyclobutanediol products. These products can potentially be applied to the synthesis of anti-viral agents, some of whose structures incorporate chiral cyclobutanediol moieties.