Condensations of γ-Acetylacetonephosphonium Ylide (1-(Triphenylphosphoranylidene) pentane-2,4-dione) with Carbonyl Compounds

2,4-Dioxopentyltriphenylphosphonium bromide reacted with aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate in dichloromethane to give, in almost quantitative yield, 1-(triphenylphosphoranylidene) pentane-2,4-dione. Dianion Wittig- and Michael Wittig condensations of the last mentioned phosphonium ylide with carbonyl compounds gave unsaturated 2,4-diketones which were almost totally enolised in deutero chloroform as 4-hydroxy-2-oxo-3,5-dienes (24–70% yields). These products closely resembled the type of compounds derived from similar condensations with alkyl 3-oxo-4-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)butanoate.