Abstract
According to cyclic voltammetry, the stable 1,3-diborata-2,4-diphosphonio-cyclobutane-1,3-diyl 1 can be readily oxidized. The oxidation is irreversible, preventing the characterization of the corresponding radical cation, whose structure has been investigated by DFT calculations. Diradicaloid 1 is oxidized by silver salts AgX (X=Cl, OTf), to give silver mirror along with the bis(chloride) and bis(trifluoromethane sulfonate) adducts 2 and 3.