Diphenylphosphine-borane complex

In 2002, Grubbs and co-workers reported the first CM reactions of allyl phosphines.In an initial reaction, subjecting allyl diphenylphosphine to catalyst 5 (5 mol%) failed to produce any of the desired cross-product. However, by protecting the phosphine as its borane complex, CM reactions could be achieved in good yield with high E-selectivity (Equation (5)). Notably, catalyst 5 failed to dimerize borane-protected vinyl diphenylphosphine. This result was attributed to substrate trapping of the catalyst as an unreactive Fischer carbene, a situation analogous to that observed in the CM reactions of alkyl vinyl ethers. 

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