ELECTROPHILIC ACTIVATION OF OH GROUPS IN ORGANOPHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS -AN APPLICATION OF PHOSPHANE BORANES

In the synthesis of oligophosphane ligands containing the neopentyl fr amework, the electrophilic activation of an OH group in compounds of t he type R'CH2C(CH2OH)(CH(2)PR(2))(2) is a serious problem which may be overcome by BH3 protection of the intrinsically nucleophilic phosphan e groups. It is shown that the hydroxy group of HOCH2C(CH(2)PPh(2))(3) (1) may be mesylated to yield MsOCH(2)C(CH(2)PPh(2)BH(3))(3) (3) afte r protection of 1 as its BH3 derivative (2).