The utilization of 4-10 mol % of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-phospholane-1-oxide, coupled with an organosilane reducing agent, allowed for the development of the first Wittig reaction catalytic in phosphine (Scheme 1). A series of alkenes were produced in moderate to high yield. The protocol was also shown to function well on scale as a 30 mmol reaction yielded 3.39g, 67 % yield. These results open the way for the expansion of this protocol to catalytic phosphine-controlled stereoselective Wittig olefination reactions. 

Recycling the waste: The development of a catalytic Wittig reaction

239th National Meeting (2010)

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