The reactions of (E)‐bis(2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl)diphosphene with tetrachloro‐o‐benzoquinone gave two products of interest, a spirophosphorane and a 1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane, indicating cleavage of the P=P bond. The structures were determined by X‐ray crystallographic analyses. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 12:300–308, 2001