Synthesis of alpha-phenylthioacylmethylene triphenylarsoranes and their Wittig-type reactions

alpha-Phenylthio acylmethylene triphenylarsoranes, the first stable alpha-t hiyl arsonium ylides, are prepared by phenylsulfenylation-transylidation re action of the corresponding acylmethylene triphenylarsoranes with phenylsul fenyl chloride; Wittig reactions are carried out under mild reaction condit ions on the arsonium ylides to provide alpha-phenylthio-alpha,beta-unsatura ted ketones.