Intermolecular hydrophosphination of alkynes and related carbon-carbon multiple bonds catalyzed by ytterbium-imine complexes

Catalytic intermolecular hydrophosphination of alkynes with Ph,PH has been achieved by using a ytterbium-imine complex, [Yb(eta (2)-Ph2CNPh)(hmpa)(6)] . Thus, both terminal and internal alkynes were converted in high yields to the corresponding alkenylphosphines or phosphine oxides after oxidative wo rkup. The present method was also applicable to various carbon-carbon multi ple bonds such as conjugated diynes and dienes, allenes and styrene derivat ives. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.