Convenient synthesis of new amphiphilic triphenylphosphine analogues for aqueous biphasic catalysis

The synthesis of three triphenylphosphine analogues with phenyl groups replaced by (4-tert-butyl)phenyl and (3-sulfonato)phenyl group is described. The surface-active properties of these new compounds are reported. The catalytic activities obtained with these phosphines in the palladium-catalyzed cleavage of undecyl allyl carbonate were up to 24000 times higher than those observed with trisulfonated triphenylphosphine, the ligand typically used in biphasic catalysis. One of these catalysts can be recovered six times without loss of catalytic activity.