An Optically Active Quaternary Phosphonium Salt

Abstract

OF organic derivatives of phosphorus (that is, containing C—P links), the only type which has hitherto been resolved into optically active forms is that represented by the general formula R¹R²R³Pâ†X, where R¹, R² and R³ are different alkyl or aryl groups and X is either oxygen or sulphur : Meisenheimer et al.¹ have resolved tertiary phosphine oxides, for example, phenyl-benzyl-methyl-phosphine oxide, and Davies and Mann² have similarly resolved phenyl-p-carboxymethylphenyl-n-butyl-phosphine sulphide.