The reactions of sodium dimethyl and diisopropyl phosphite, as well as dibe
nzylphosphinite with 4-nitrobenzyl chloride, 9-chlorofluorene, and diphenyl
chloromethane weve studied in detail by the isolation and identification of
all the products, and the examination of the effects of title solvents on
the product distribution. The results of the performed experiments nl-e com
patible With the proposed mechanism: a >P-O- anion acts toward an arylmethy
l chloride as a base and abstracts a proton to form a carbanion, which can
then participate in the SET processes to produce carbon-centered radicals.
Additionally, the >P-O- reagent can act as a carbon-centered radical trap i
f it is present in a high enough concentration. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sans,
Inc.