Convenient synthesis of new amphiphilic triphenylphosphine analogues for aqueous biphasic catalysis

The synthesis of three triphenylphosphine analogues with phenyl groups repl aced by (4-tert-butyl)phenyl and (3-sulfonato)phenyl group is described. Th e surface-active properties of these new compounds are reported. The cataly tic activities obtained with these phosphines in the palladium-catalyzed cl eavage of undecyl allyl carbonate were up to 24000 times higher than those observed with trisulfonated triphenylphosphine, the ligand typically used i n biphasic catalysis. One of these catalysts can be recovered six times wit hout loss of catalytic activity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.