Facile synthesis of α -alkoxymethyltriphenylphosphonium iodides: new application of PPh 3 /I 2

An efficient one pot method for the synthesis of α -alkoxymethylphosphonium iodides is developed by using PPh 3 /I 2 combination at room temperature. Reaction conditions are found general to synthesize wide range of structurally variant alkoxymethylphosphonium iodides in high yield (70–91%). These new functionalized phosphonium salts are further used in stereoselective synthesis of vinyl ethers as well as in carbon homologation of aldehydes.