Reactions of elemental phosphorus and phosphine with electrophiles in superbasic systems: XV. Phosphorylation of allyl halides with elemental phosphorus

Elemental phosphorus (red or white) reacts with allyl chloride and ally] bromide in a two-phase system aqueous KOH-organic solvent to form tertiary symmetrical and mixed phosphine oxides among which tris(prop-2-enyl)-, bis(prop-2-enyl)[(E)-prop-1-enyl]-, bis(prop-2-enyl)[(Z)-prop-1-enyll-, (prop-2-enyl)[(E)prop-I-enyl] [(Z)-prop-1-enyl]-, bis[(E)-prop-1-enyl](prop-2-enyl)-, bis[(Z)-prop-1-enyl](prop-2-enyl)-, tris[(E)-prop-1-enyl]-, and bis[(E)-prop-1-enyl][(Z)-prop-1-enyl]phosphine oxides were identified. The conditions (room temperature, 60% aqueous KOH-dioxane) allowing preparation from white phosphorus and allyl bromide of tris(prop-2-enyl)- and bis(prop-2-enyl)[(E)-prop-1-enyl]phosphine oxides as major products in the total yield of up to 96% were found.