The Trityl‐Cation Mediated Phosphine Oxides Reduction

Abstract Reduction of phosphine oxides into the corresponding phosphines using PhSiH 3 as a reducing agent and Ph 3 C + [B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] − as an initiator is described. The process is highly efficient, reducing a broad range of secondary and tertiary alkyl and arylphosphines, bearing various functional groups in generally good yields. The reaction is believed to proceed through the generation of a silyl cation, which reaction with the phosphine oxide provides a phosphonium salt, further reduced by the silane to afford the desired phosphine along with siloxanes. magnified image