The Phospha-Bora-Wittig Reaction

We report the phospha-bora-Wittig reaction for the direct preparation of phosphaalkenes from aldehydes, ketones, esters, or amides. The transient phosphaborene Mes*P=B-NR2 reacts with carbonyl compounds to form 1,2,3-phosphaboraoxetanes, analogues of oxaphosphetane intermediates in the classical Wittig reaction. 1,2,3-Phosphaboraoxetanes undergo thermal or Lewis acid-promoted cycloreversion, yielding phosphaalkenes. Experimental and density functional theory studies reveal far-reaching similarities between classical and phospha-bora-Wittig reactions.