Cerium chloride (III) promoteid nucleophilic addition of organolithium reagents to α-diphenylphosphinoyl ketones. An efficient-method for the synthesis of Horner-Wittig intermediates

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)74431-5

Reaction of α-diphenylphosphinoyl ketones with organolithium reagents, in the presence or anhydrous CeCl₃ in THF at -78°C, affords β-hydroxyalkylphosphine oxides in fair to good yields. These are essential to obtain olefins with β-carbon disubs