SYNTHESIS OF NEW COMPLEX YLIDENETRIPHENYLPHOSPHORANES FROM THE REACTION OF ARYLIDENEMALONONITRILES WITH WITTIG-REAGENTS

The resonance-stabilized Wittig reagent 2 adds to the exocyclic ethylenic linkage of the arylidenemalononitriles 1a-g to yield the new complex ylidenetriphenylphosphoranes 4a-g. The reaction is regiospecific which yields the E conformers of structure `'4c.'' Possible reaction mechanisms are considered and structures of the new products were confirmed on the basis of elemental analyses and spectral studies.