Bis-insertion of Ru(CO)HCl(PPh3)3 with methyl propiolate. The unexpected formation of (methoxycarbonylethenyl)triphenylphosphonium chloride

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(89)80036-1

The reaction of Ru(CO)HCl(PPh3)3 with methyl propiolate gives two bis-insertion derivatives resulting from a head-to-head dimerization reaction.The eliminated triphenylphosphine ligand reacts with the alkyne to give an acetylidephosphonium salt, which brings about substitution of the chloride ligand of Ru(CO)Cl(CH=CHCOOMe)(PPh3)2 by acetylide.The resulting phosphonium salt, methoxycarbonylethenyltriphenylphosphonium chloride has been characterized as the methanol adduct 2-methoxy-2-methoxycarbonylethyltriphenylphosphonium chloride.