Low temp. 31P NMR indicated that the reaction of Ph3P+C-RR1 (I, R = R1 = H, Me) with R2COR3 (R2 = R3 = H; R2 = Ph, R3 = H) under salt free conditions gave the corresponding oxaphosphetane (II); in the presence of Li salts, esp. in Et2O, Ph3P+CRR1CR2R3OLi X ...
1975