Abstract
A one-step synthesis of dimethyl 2-arylamino-3-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)succinates in fairly good yields by the reaction of electron-poor primary arylamines, dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and triphenylphosphine is reported. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by UV, IR, MS and 1H, 31P and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. The NMR spectra indicated that the compounds (CDCl3 ah solvent) contained two rotamers with unequal population for each ylide.