Phosphonates, ylid formation

Derivatives of the general formula (7) in Table 6 have been successfully used as probases and their properties in this context are being further explored. In common with the azobenzenes and ethenetetracarboxylate esters, the fluoren-9-ylidene derivatives usually display two reversible one-electron peaks in cyclic voltammetric experiments. Although disproportionation is possible (cf. Scheme 12) it is the dianions which are the effective bases. It was shown early on that the radical-anions of such derivatives are long-lived in relatively acidic conditions (e.g. in DMF solution the first reduction peak of Ph C -.QCN) remains reversible in the presence of a 570-fold molar excess of acetic acid, at 0.1 V s ). Even the dianions are relatively weak bases, useful mainly for ylid formation from phosphonium and sulphonium salts (pKj s 11-15) they are not sufficiently basic to effect the Wittig-Homer reaction which involves deprotonation of phosphonate esters... 

Monocyclic Phosphoranes. - Further studies of the reaction of P-fluoro-ylids (53) with carbonyl compounds (54) reveals formation of P-fluoro-oxaphosphetans (55) as the initial addition products. These may decompose in a conventional Wittig reaction to form alkenes (56)21 ajgo lose HF to form alkyl phosphonates (57).22... 

Some 2,3-epoxyamides of aldonic acids have been prepared by reaction of acyclic aldose derivatives with sulfur ylids (Scheme 1). 5y -epoxidation of some racemic 2-benzyloxy-4-alkenamides by way of iodohydrin formation and subsequent base treatment has afforded epoxides such as 2. Epoxidation of hex-2-enopyranosyl phosphonates has been effected with H202/sodium tungstate. ... 

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