Some Unusual Properties of Tris(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)phosphine Sulfide and the Related Compounds

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.64.1782

The title sulfide <2,6-(MeO)2C6H3>3P=S reacted with acids to form a novel mercaptophosphonium salt <(2,6)3P-SH>X, solution thermolysis of which in the absence or presence of triphenylphosphine resulted in the unusual desulfurization to give the tertiary phosphonium salts <(2,6)3P-OH>X. (2,6)3P=S also reacted with alkyl iodides or bromides under mild conditions to give stable (alkylthio)phosphonium salts <(2,6)3P-SR>X (R=Me, Et, n-Bu), which reacted with thiols at room temperature in the presence of a catalytic amount of the tertiary phosphine (2,6)3P to give <(2,6)3P-H>X and unsymmetrical disulfides.