Reactions of phosphines with acetylenes. Part VIII. Synthesis of 1,2-dideuteriated olefins

Abstract

The 1,2-dideuteriated olefins dimethyl[²H₂]fumarate, [²H₂]benzylidene acetophenone, and methyl [²H₂]cinnamate have been prepared by a simple and economical method from disubstituted acetylenes by use of triphenyl phosphine and deuterium oxide. The method is limited to substituents which activate the reacting acetylenic bonds to wards nucleophilic attack by triphenylphosphine.