Sodium amide phosphonium ylide synthesis

Typically, nonstabilized ylides are utilized for the synthesis of (Z)-alkenes. In 1986, Schlosser published a paper summarizing the factors that enhance (Z)-selectivity. Salt effects have historically been defined as the response to the presence of soluble lithium salts. Any soluble salt will compromise the (Z)-selectivity of the reaction, and typically this issue has been resolved by the use of sodium amide or sodium or potassium hexamethyldisilazane (NaHMDS or KHMDS) as the base. Solvent effects are also vital to the stereoselectivity. In general, ethereal solvents such as THF, diethyl ether, DME and t-butyl methyl ether are the solvents of choice." In cases where competitive enolate fomnation is problematic, toluene may be utilized. Protic solvents, such as alcohols, as well as DMSO, should be avoided in attempts to maximize (Z)-selectivity. Finally, the dropwise addition of the carbonyl to the ylide should be carried out at low temperature (-78 C). Recent applications of phosphonium ylides in natural product synthesis have been extensively reviewed by Maryanoff and Reitz. 

The use of sodium amide proved to be very successful in the synthesis of nonstabilized ylides free from lithium salts. - The reaction is usually carried out in liquid ammonia, but also a suspension of sodium amide in benzene or THF can be used. Whereas alkyltriarylphosphonium salts are deprotonated in liquid ammonia, in the case of the corresponding tetraalkyl compounds boiling THF is necessary. Mixtures of dry phosphonium salt and powdered sodium amide can be stored indefinitely and hence provide instant ylide mixtures. Upon addition of an ethereal solvent the ylide is quantitatively generated. 

Stepwise deprotonation of methylenebis(triorgano)phosphonium salts with bases yields carbodiphosphoranes via intermediate semi-ylide salts, which may also be accessible by alkylation or phosphinol-ation of corresponding alkylidenephosphoranes (equation 118). " It depends on the starting phosphonium salt and the base whether the intermediate ylide salts can be isolated or not. Suitable bases are sodium amide, alkali metal hydrides, alkylidenetrialkylphosphoranes, potassium and lithium orga-nyls. For the synthesis of hexaphenylcarbodiphosphorane improved methods have been reported by which this compound may be generate without isolation of the ylide salt and on a large scale. 

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