Synthesis of new chiral pyrylium salts and their phosphinine and pyridine derivatives

Despite their versatility, chiral pyryliums are almost unknown in the literature. Reported here is the synthesis of several new chiral pyrylium salts and the corresponding pyridines and phosphinines. This work more than doubles the number of reported chiral pyryliums, and also represents the first racemizable/epimerizable pyryliums. The derived phosphinines and pyridines represent rare α-chiral ligands for transition metals.