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Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Preparation and Reactivity of a Triphosphenium Bromide Salt: A Convenient and Stable Source of PhosphorusI
Published on: November 22, 2016
The Phospha-Bora-Wittig Reaction
Andryj M Borys1, Ella F Rice1, Gary S Nichol1
1EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
We report the phospha-bora-Wittig reaction for the direct preparation of phosphaalkenes from aldehydes, ketones, esters, or amides. The transient phosphaborene Mes*P═B-NR2 reacts with carbonyl compounds to form 1,2,3-phosphaboraoxetanes, analogues of oxaphosphetane intermediates in the classical Wittig reaction. 1,2,3-Phosphaboraoxetanes undergo thermal or Lewis acid-promoted cycloreversion, yielding phosphaalkenes. Experimental and density functional theory studies reveal far-reaching similarities between classical and phospha-bora-Wittig reactions.
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