Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025

Preparation and Reactivity of a Triphosphenium Bromide Salt: A Convenient and Stable Source of PhosphorusI
Published on: November 22, 2016
Photoinduced Hydrophosphination of Terminal Alkynes with Tri(o-tolyl)phosphine: Synthesis of Alkenylphosphonium Salts
Daichi Ikeshita1, Yusuke Masuda1, Naoki Ishida1
1Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Kyoto University, Katsura, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
Abstract:
Herein reported is a photoinduced hydrophosphination reaction of terminal alkynes with tri(o-tolyl)phosphine to form alkenylphosphonium salts. The reaction is more sustainable than conventional methods since it dispenses with the need for elaborated starting materials and precious transition metals. The o-methyl groups of tri(o-tolyl)phosphine play two important roles: (1) to guide the phosphorus radical to add onto the terminal sp carbon and (2) to donate a hydrogen atom onto the developing sp2 carbon radical intramolecularly.
Related Concept Videos
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Halogenation
Halogenation is another class of electrophilic addition reactions where a halogen molecule gets added across a π bond. In alkynes, the presence of two π bonds allows for the addition of two equivalents of halogens (bromine or chlorine). The addition of the first halogen molecule forms a trans-dihaloalkene as the major product and the cis isomer as the minor product. Subsequent addition of the second equivalent yields the tetrahalide.
Preparation of Alkynes: Alkylation Reaction
Alkylation of terminal alkynes with primary alkyl halides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide is one of the common methods for the synthesis of longer carbon-chain alkynes. For example, treatment of 1-propyne with sodium amide followed by reaction with ethyl bromide yields 2-pentyne.
Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Hydrohalogenation
Preparation of Alkynes: Dehydrohalogenation
Alkynes can be prepared by dehydrohalogenation of vicinal or geminal dihalides in the presence of a strong base like sodium amide in liquid ammonia. The reaction proceeds with the loss of two equivalents of hydrogen halide (HX) via two successive E2 elimination reactions.
Aldehydes and Ketones to Alkenes: Wittig Reaction Mechanism
The reaction begins with the nucleophilic addition between a phosphorus ylide and the carbonyl compound. Due to its carbanionic character, phosphorus ylide acts as a strong nucleophile and attacks the electrophilic carbonyl group. This generates a charge-separated dipolar intermediate called betaine. The negatively charged oxygen atom and...

