Insertion of phosphinidene complexes into the P–H bond of secondary phosphine oxides: a new version of the phospha-Wittig synthesis of PC double bonds

Abstract

Terminal phosphinidene complexes [RP-W(CO)₅], as generated at 60 °C in the presence of copper chloride from the appropriate 7-phosphanorbornadiene complexes, react with secondary phosphine oxides Ar₂P(O)H to give the insertion products into the P–H bonds. After metalation with NaH, these products react with aldehydes to give the corresponding phosphaalkenes which are trapped by dimethylbutadiene.