Abstract
4-Substituted-4-triphenylphosphonio-5(4H)-oxazolones, when reacted with hydrogen iodide in methylene chloride at room temperature, undergo hydro-de-phosphoniation to 5(4H)-oxa- zolonium salts, which react with methanol and triethylamine to give the corresponding N-acyl α-amino acid methyl esters. The possible mechanisms of hydro-de-phosphoniation is discussed.