Tributylphosphine-Zinc

Shen, Y, Xin, Y, Zhao, J, A new method for carbon-carbon double bond formation promoted by tributylphosphine and zinc. Tetrahedron Lett., 29, 6119-6120, 1988. 

The challenge of three-component synthesis of prostaglandines has been met by Ryoji Noyori et /. with extraordinary success. The assembly of the "lower" ((d) and the "upper" (a) side chain is accomplished in a "one-pot" protocol. The (D-side chain is attached by addition of (5)-/raiw-3-terr-butyldimethylsiIyIoxy-l-octenyllithium complexed with one equivalent of dimethylzinc or, alternatively, with copper iodide and tributylphosphine. To install the a-chain, the zinc enolate formed in the preceding step is directly condensed with the functionalized cts-allylic or propargylic part, whereas the copper enolate has to be added in the presence of triphenyltin chloride and hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide (HMPA). ... 

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