From Secondary Phosphine Oxides and Sulphides

From Secondary Phosphine Oxides and Sulphides.—A novel reaction of phosphinates with sodium bis-(2-methoxyethoxy)aluminium hydride has been used to synthesize phosphine oxides, The complex hydride is believed to generate a secondary phosphine oxide anion from the phosphinate, and this ion may be trapped by an alkyl halide to give a phosphine oxide. The reaction is general for tetrahedral esters, and is 

The problem of the formation of diphosphine disulphides from phosphonothioic dichlorides and Grignard reagents has received further 

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