Preparation of Diphenyl Phosphide and Substituted Phosphines using Alkali Metal in Silica Gel (M−SG)

Abstract
Alkali metals absorbed in silica gel (the M-SG reagents) efficiently cleave C-P bonds in triaryl- and diarylphosphines. The resulting alkali metal phosphides can serve as useful building blocks for a variety of phosphines. Alkyldiarylphosphines undergo exclusive aryl group cleavage.