Reduction of benzoyl tributylphosphonium chlorides by samarium diiodide as a novel access to 4-benzoylbenzaldehydes
Abstract
Addition of samarium diiodide to a well-stirred THF solution of benzoyl tributylphosphonium chlorides generated in situ from benzoyl chlorides and tributylphosphine at −40 °C gave 4-benzoylbenzaldehydes as predominant products from benzoyl chlorides without para-substituents, while benzoyl chloride bearing p-methyl or chloro groups was exclusively converted into the corresponding α-diketone.