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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Efficient Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Benzenes in Water via Persulfate-promoted Benzannulation of α,β-Unsaturated Compounds and Alkynes
Published on: December 16, 2019
Expedient synthesis of substituted (diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)benzenes
Sean P Bew1, Rebecca A Brimage, David L Hughes
1School of Chemical Sciences & Pharmacy, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK. s.bew@uea.ac.uk
Abstract:
An efficient protocol for the synthesis of structurally diverse (diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)benzenes is described. The reaction employs readily available carboxylic acids, chlorodiphenylphosphine, and water as the reagents. A 97% reduction in the reaction times and substantially higher yields of products result, up to a 60% increase, if the reactions are performed under microwave irradiation. The first examples of transition-metal-catalyzed reactions applied to 4-bromo-1,3-bis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)benzene are also reported.
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