Abstract

The Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction involves the formation of dialkyl alkylphosphonates by heating alkyl halides with trialkyl phosphites, via an intermediate phosphonium salt. In recent years it has been found that phosphonium salts can be formed by reaction of a variety of trivalent phosphorus compounds with oxidizing electrophiles, and that the resulting phosphonium intermediates can be trapped with an alcohol to form alkoxyphosphonium cations. These cations can then undergo nucleophilic displacements, either with their own counterions or with added nucleophiles.

This chapter is limited to species formed in situ from trivalent phosphorus compounds and various oxidants. The most commonly used trivalent phosphorus compounds are triphenyl phosphite, triphenylphosphine, and tris(dimethylamino)phosphine. The most commonly used oxidants are molecular halogens, alkyl halides, carbon tetrahalides, N-haloamides, N-haloamines, and diethyl azodicarboxylate (DEAD). Other oxidants that have been used include mercuric salts, peroxides, dithioesters, and sulfenamides. The more common combinations of phosphorus(III) compounds and oxidants are summarized.

The replacement of hydroxyl groups by halogen, the most common use of oxyphosphonium intermediates, is the principal subject of this chapter. However, the replacement of hydroxyl groups by oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon nucleophiles is also discussed. This review is restricted to alcoholic hydroxyl groups, and does not include a discussion of carboxylic hydroxyl groups.

The principal combinations covered are triphenylphosphine–diethyl azodicarboxylate, triphenyl phosphite–methiodide, triphenylphosphine–halogen, triphenylphosphine–tetrahalomethane, triphenylphosphine–N-haloimide, and tris(dimethylamino)phosphine–tetrahalomethane. Some of these combinations have been discussed in recent reviews.