“RS+” as a Coupling Reagent for Phosphorylation and Carboxylic Acid Activation

Phenylsulfenyl chloride, a sulfenium ion transfer reagent, promotes the formation of pyrophosphate from tetrabutylammonium phosphate, under controlled ?pH? conditions, in yields of up to 85%. Dichloroacetic and succinic acids, in the presence of phenylsulfenyl chloride and a tertiary amine, form the corresponding anhydrides in very good yields. The treatment of dichloroacetic acid or p-nitrobenzoic acid with phenylsulfenyl chloride in the presence of a tertiary amine, followed by the addition of aniline, affords the corresponding anilides in yields of up to 42%.