The thermal decomposition of phosphonium alkoxides
Abstract
The thermal decomposition of phosphonium alkoxides has been investigated. In general, n-alkyltriphenyl-phosphonium salts with sodium alkoxides at 280° give n-alkyldiphenylphosphine and alkyl phenyl ether. Olefin formation is a minor reaction but becomes the major one with secondary- and tertiary- alkylphosphonium alkoxides. With sodium thiophenoxide the reaction is entirely nucleophilic displacement of triphenylphosphine.