Phosphetane Oxides as Redox Cycling Catalysts in the Catalytic Wittig Reaction at Room Temperature

Abstract

Recently, phosphorus redox cycling has gained significant importance for a number of transformations originally requiring the use of stoichiometric amounts of phosphorus reagents. While these methodologies have several benefits, high catalyst loadings (≥10 mol %) and harsh reaction conditions (T ≥ 100 °C) often limit their versatility and applicability. Herein, we report differently substituted phosphetane oxides as efficient catalysts for the catalytic Wittig reaction. The phosphetane scaffold is easy to modify, and a number of catalysts can be obtained in a simple two-step synthesis. The activity in the Wittig reaction significantly surpasses previously reported phospholane-based catalysts and the reaction can be conducted with catalyst loadings as low as 1.0 mol % even at room temperature. Furthermore, a Brønsted acid additive is no longer required to achieve high yields at these mild conditions. A methyl-substituted phosphetane oxide was employed to synthesize 25 different alkenes with yields of up to 97%. The methodology has a good functional group tolerance and the reaction can be performed starting with alkyl chlorides, bromides, or iodides. Additionally, it was possible to use poly(methylhydrosiloxane) as the terminal reductant in the catalytic Wittig reaction employing 2-MeTHF as a renewable solvent. The intermediates of the Wittig reaction were analyzed by 31P NMR spectroscopy, and in situ NMR experiments confirmed phosphane oxide as the resting state of the catalyst. Further kinetic investigations revealed a striking influence of the base on the rate of phosphane oxide reduction.