Ligands make the catalyst: Synthesis of novel functionalized phosphines

Many catalytic active transition metal complexes contain phosphines as liga nds which control decisively the activity and selectivity of the catalyst. Therefore synthetic methods which allow the preparation of highly functiona lized phosphines are needed to match the increasing demands far higher acti vity and selectivity in catalytic processes. In this report we introduce a simple general new method for the synthesis of phosphines, arsines, and sti bines. This allowed for example the preparations of phosphines based on ser ine and thymine derivatives (SerPhos and ThymPhos, respectively).