Mechanism of phosphorus-carbon bond cleavage by lithium in tertiary phosphines. An optimized synthesis of 1,2-bis(phenylphosphino)ethane

Conditions influencing the extent of P-C(aryl) vs P-C(alkyl) bond cleavage in the reaction of Ph₂P(CH₂)₂PPh₂ with lithium in THF have been investigated. The results complement and elucidate earlier work; they indicate that the mechanism of P-C bond cleavage in tertiary phosphines of this type involves a thermodynamic equilibrium between P-C(aryl) and P- C(alkyl) cleaved radicals and anions, followed by reaction and stabilization of these as lithium salts. The addition of water to the reaction mixture causes a reestablishment of the cleavage equilibrium prior to the formation of the secondary phosphines. A mechanism involving competitive release of leaving groups as the thermodynamically most stable anion or radical has been proposed. The preparation of (R*, R*)-(±)/(R*, S*)-PhP(H)(CH₂)₂P(H)Ph by this route has been optimized.