The new 6π-electron four-membered ring compound 3-fluoro-1λ2,2,4,3λ3-thiadiazaphosphetidine, FP(μ-N)2S, has been generated in the gas phase through high-vacuum flash pyrolysis (HVFP) of thiophosphoryl diazide, FP(S)(N3)2, at 1000 K. Subsequent isolation of FP(μ-N)2S in cryogenic matrices (Ar, Ne, and N2) allows its characterization with matrix-isolation IR and UV-vis spectroscopy by combination with 15N-isotope labeling and computations at the CCSD(T)-F12a/VTZ-F12 level of theory. Upon visible-light irradiation at 550 nm, this cyclic compound undergoes ring-opening to the thiazyl isomer FPNSN, followed by dissociation to FP and SN2 under subsequent UV-irradiation at 365 nm. In sharp contrast to the square planar structure for the isolobal four-membered ring S2N2, a puckered structure with significant biradical character has been found for FP(μ-N)2S.

https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.202300251