Process for the preparation of tertiary phosphines

Abstract

A process is specified for the preparation of tertiary phosphines of the formula R'PR.sub.2 or R.sub.2 P--[CH.sub.2 ].sub.3 --PR.sub.2 in which R is an aryl, pyridyl or arylsulfonic acid group and R' is an aryl, pyridyl, arylsulfonic acid or n-butyl group, which comprises reacting phosphines of the formula H.sub.n PR".sub.3-n or H.sub.2 P--[CH.sub.2 ].sub.3 --PH.sub.2 in which R" is hydrogen or an n-butyl, aryl or pyridyl group and n is 1 or 2 with a halogen compound of the formula X-R, in which R has the abovementioned meaning and X is fluorine, chlorine or bromine, in the presence of powdered potassium hydroxide and dimethyl sulfoxide and/or dimethoxyethane at temperatures between 0 and 100.degree. C., at least 1 mol of potassium hydroxide being used per mole of halogen compound.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.