Preparation of phosphine ligands

Abstract

A process for the preparation of a compound having the formula R3R4P—Ar—CO—X wherein Ar is an aryl group bearing the PR3R4 and COX groups in a 1,2-relationship, and optionally bearing also one or more non-interfering groups, R3 and R4 are each a hydrocarbon group optionally substituted by any non-interfering group, and X is OH or a non-interfering group, comprises (i) the reaction of NaPR3R4 with F—Ar—COX, or (ii) when X is an amine group, the reaction of R3R4P—Ar—COOY, OY being OH or a leaving group, with a solution of the amine obtained in situ by adding a base to a salt thereof. Certain ligands prepared by such a process are in a novel, crystalline form.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.