A Simple Synthesis of Stable Phosphorus Ylides from Indole and Some of Its Derivatives

Stable crystalline phosphorus ylides were obtained in excellent yields from the 1:1:1 addition reaction between triphenylphosphine and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in the presence of strong NH acids, such as indole and 2-methyl indole, 3-methyl indole, and 5-boromo indole. These stable ylides exist in a solution as a mixture of two geometrical isomers as a result of the restricted rotation around the carbon–carbon partial double bond resulting from the conjugation of the ylide moiety with the adjacent carbonyl group.