Tris(fluoroalkoxy)methylphosphonium salts in the synthesis of methylphosphoranes

Abstract

The reactions of phosphites containing electron-withdrawing fluoroalkyl groups with methyl triflate gave tris(fluoroalkoxy)methylphosphonium triflates, which react with alcohols to give either tetrakis(fluoroalkoxy)methylphosphoranes (in the case of fluoroalcohols) or alkylation products - ethers and bis(fluoroalkoxy)methylphosphonates (in the case of unsubstituted alcohols). The structures of the phosphonium salts and phosphoranes were supported by1H and31P NMR spectroscopy. © 1991 Plenum Publishing Corporation.