Air-stable phosphine organocatalysts for the hydroarsination reaction

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.jorganchem.2020.121216

Readily-available triarylphosphines are explored as organocatalysts for the hydroarsination reaction. When compared to transition metal catalysis, phosphine organocatalysis greatly improved solvent compatibility of the hydroarsination of nitrostyrenes. Upon complete conversion, arsine products were isolated in up to 99% yield while up to 48% of the phosphine catalyst was still active. A mechanism was proposed and structure-activity analysis regarding catalyst activity concluded that sterically-bulkier catalysts were effective at minimizing catalyst deactivation.