Stereo-controlled synthesis of styrylphosphines and their oxides or sulfides using phosphonium diylides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)01758-4

Lithium dimethyldiphenylphosphonium diylide reacts with electrophiles such as Ph₂PCl, Ph₂P(O)Cl or Ph₂P(S)Cl to give monoylide intermediates allowing by reaction with benzaldehyde the synthesis of the styrylphosphines or the corresponding oxides or sulfides. This efficient one-pot method permits at choice the selective synthesis of each isomer Z or E and corroborates further the isomeric identification of the styrylphosphines.