SYNTHESIS OF NEW COMPLEX YLIDENETRIPHENYLPHOSPHORANES FROM THE REACTION OF ARYLIDENEMALONONITRILES WITH WITTIG-REAGENTS

Abstract

The resonance-stabilized Wittig reagent 2 adds to the exocyclic ethylenic linkage of the arylidene malononitriles 1a–g to yield the new complex ylidenetriphenylphosphoranes 4a–g. The reaction is regiospecific which yields the E conformers of structure “4c”. Possible reaction mechanisms are considered and structures of the new products were confirmed on the basis of elemental analyses and spectral studies.

Key Words:

• Arylidenemalononitriles
• Wittig reagents
• regiospecific addition