Regioselective functionalisation of nitrobenzene and benzonitrile derivatives via nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydrogen by phosphorus-stabilized carbanions

The synthesis of P-benzylic products by reaction of anions stabilised by N-phosphorylphosphazenyl, N-methoxycarbonylphosphazenyl, phosphine borane complex, and phosphine oxide groups by displacement of hydrogen of a variety of electron-deficient benzene derivatives is described. Lithium phosphazenes were the most suitable nucleophiles for the substitution of hydrogen in nitrobenzene and some ortho-, meta-, and para- substituted nitrobenzenes. Lithiated phosphine borane complexes produced efficiently the substitution of the hydrogen at the para position of a cyano group in cyanobenzenes, whereas the anion of ethyldiphenylphosphine oxide lead to complex mixtures with all electrophiles assayed. The method reported here represents a convenient alternative to the vicarious nucleophilic substitution for the synthesis of benzylic phosphorus derivatives using phosphorus-stabilised anions that do not bear a leaving group at the carbanionic centre.