Synthesis of 3-Ethoxy-2-Oxo-3-Phenyl-1,2-Oxaphosphorinane-3,5-Diene

Abstract

In view of the limited number of examples of 2-oxo-l,2-oxaphosphorinane3,5diene derivatives^1,2, we investigated the preparation of the title compound and derivatives of the same. Of additional interest were the spectroscopic propertits of this class of compounds, their stability, and the outcome of their reaction with nucleophilts. Prior work in our laboratory on the synthesis of simple phostones and their derivatives³, led us to use these as starting mataials. The presence of the phenyl substituent in la, (cis and trans isomers) permitted facile introduction of a bromo group through free radical bromination with NBS/AIBN to give 2a,b in 79% overall yield. The individual isomers of 2 were separated; tentative stereochemical assignments were made using NMR spectroscopy. Treatmnt of 2 with LiCl/DMF gave 3; the trans isomer (phenyl and OEt trans) 2b reacted much faster than the cis isomer. Treatmnt of 3 with NBS/AIBN gave 4a,b and 5 which were separated by flash chromatography. Dehydrobromination of 4 (71% yield) was achieved by heating with an excess of Et₃N in toluenc at 95°C to produce 6; likewise, dehydrobromination of 5 at 70°C gave 7.