A new route to mercury-containing triphenylphosphonium salts with electron-withdrawing groups at the P atom and some transformations of these compounds

Article abstract of DOI:10.1023/B:RUGC.0000031851.88852.ce

(Aroylmethyl)triphenylphosphonium salts react with mercury(II) trifluoroacetate with replacement of the labile methylene hydrogen atom by the HgOCOCF₃ group to give mercury-containing triphenylphosphonium salts in quantitative yields. Treatment of the mercurated salts with potassium carbonate yields mercury-containing triphenylphosphonium ylides of symmetrical and unsymmetrical structures, which enter Wittig reaction with aromatic aldehydes to form the corresponding mercurated olefins (Z isomers) and triphenylphosphine oxide.