Recently,
phosphorus redox cycling has gained significant importance
for a number of transformations originally requiring the use of stoichiometric
amounts of phosphorus reagents. While these methodologies have several
benefits, high catalyst loadings (≥10 mol %) and harsh reaction
conditions (T ≥ 100 °C) often limit their
versatility and applicability. Herein, we report differently substituted
phosphetane oxides as efficient catalysts for the catalytic Wittig
reaction. The phosphetane scaffold is easy to modify, and a number
of catalysts can be obtained in a simple two-step synthesis. The activity
in the Wittig reaction significantly surpasses previously reported
phospholane-based catalysts and the reaction can be conducted with
catalyst loadings as low as 1.0 mol % even at room temperature. Furthermore,
a Brønsted acid additive is no longer required to achieve high
yields at these mild conditions. A methyl-substituted phosphetane
oxide was employed to synthesize 25 different alkenes with yields
of up to 97%. The methodology has a good functional group tolerance
and the reaction can be performed starting with alkyl chlorides, bromides,
or iodides. Additionally, it was possible to use poly(methylhydrosiloxane)
as the terminal reductant in the catalytic Wittig reaction employing
2-MeTHF as a renewable solvent. The intermediates of the Wittig reaction
were analyzed by 31P NMR spectroscopy, and in situ NMR
experiments confirmed phosphane oxide as the resting state of the
catalyst. Further kinetic investigations revealed a striking influence
of the base on the rate of phosphane oxide reduction.