Novel reaction of phosphoranes with lactones. Formation and thermal ring closure of triphenyl(alkyl)phosphoniocarboxylate betaines

Abstract

The reaction of alkylidenetriphenylphosphoranes with lactones affords triphenyl(alkyl)phosphoniocarboxylate betaines, which were thermally decomposed to give triphenylphosphine and lactones with the alkylidene groups of the starting phosphoranes introduced into the ring.