No abstract

Phosphine adds to olefins in the presence of non-oxidizing acid catalysts to give good yields of monoalkylphosphines and small amounts of dialkylphosphines. Reaction takes place readily at 30 to 60°under 20 to 40 atmospheres of phosphine.Because tertiary olefins react most easily, a carbonium ion mechanism seems likely. Nearly stoichiometric amounts of catalyst are needed because monoalkylphosphines react with the catalyst to form monoalkylphosphonium salts.