Unexpected catalyst for Wittig-type and dehalogenation reactions.
A novel catalyst 2 for Wittig-type and dehalogenation reactions was developed. In the presence of triphenyl phosphite, a wide variety of aldehydes could react with alpha-bromoacetates to afford alpha,beta-unsaturated esters or ketones in high yields with excellent E-stereoselectivity when 1-2 mol % of compound 2 was used. Compound 2 was also an effective catalyst for reductive dehalogenation of alpha-bromocarbonyl compounds. The mechanisms for the above reactions were also proposed.
State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, 354 Fenglin Lu, Shanghai 200032, China.
Zheng-Zheng
ZZ
Huang
Yong
Y
Tang