Aryne insertion into the P[double bond, length as m-dash]O bond: one-pot synthesis of quaternary phosphonium triflates.

A novel transition-metal free synthetic strategy has been developed for the direct synthesis of quaternary phosphonium triflates via insertion of aryne into phosphine oxide. This methodology provides good yields of quaternary phosphonium salts and one of the synthesized phosphonium salts has been unambiguously established by single crystal XRD study. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction proceeds via a sequential [2 + 2] cycloaddition followed by the o-arylation and protonation pathway.