Reactions of 2-phospholene 1-oxides with bromine in some media: Facile preparation of bromohydrin derivatives of 2-phospholenes

Reactions of 1-phenyl- and 1-methoxy-2-phospholene 1-oxides with bromine in aqueous organic solvents or in a protic medium, such as methanol, easily afforded the corresponding 2-bromo-3-hydroxy- or 2-bromo-3-methoxyphospholane 1-oxide derivatives. The reaction mechanism was postulated based on the stereochemistry of the products.