Staudinger/aza-Wittig reactions utilizing a novel linear polymer-supported triphenylphosphine as a modified liquid-phase reagent

A new triphenylphosphine reagent linked to a linear maleimide-styrene copolymer is synthesized and is found to be effective for the formation of a variety of imines via the Staudinger/aza-Wittig reaction. This linear polymer-supported triphenylphosphine has a unique solubility behavior and provides for a simple means of purifying the desired imine from the phosphine oxide by-product. The reactivity of this polymeric reagent is superior to that of the cross-linked polymer-supported phosphine reagent.