EtN=P(NMe2)N=P(NMe2)3: An efficient non-ionic base catalyst for the isomerization of allylic compounds and methylene-interrupted dienes

Abstract

Allylbenzene derivatives, allyl phenylsulfide, allylimidazole, 1,4-dihydronaphthalene, and several methylene-interrupted diene compounds are easily isomerized by the phosphazene strong base EtN=P(NMe2)N= P(NMe2)3 (P2-Et) in acetonitrile at 40°C. This is the first report of such isomerizations catalyzed by a strong non-ionic strong base. The proposed methodology offers significant advantages over existing methods for most substrates, especially in terms of mild reaction conditions, experimental simplicity and high yields.