Differentially Substituted Phosphines via Decarbonylation of Acylphosphines

A new route to phosphines was developed by a method that features a “pre-join and transform” process that proceeds via acylphosphine intermediates that may be readily prepared from carboxylic acids and disubstituted phosphines. The efficient decarbonylations of these acylphosphines using a nickel catalyst delivered the corresponding phosphines. This method shows that the carboxyl group can play a role similar to halides or triflates for introducing a substituted phosphorus atom on an aromatic ring.