Chemo- and regioselective allylic oxidation: Oxo-derivatives of 2-phospholene sugar analogs

A convenient and facile chemo- and regioselective oxidation of the allylic methylene group in a 2-phospholene ring system afforded the novel carbonyl derivatives of 2-phospholenes (2a–i). The method gives high conversion and selectivity in the formation of allylic ketones. The advantages of this oxidation method in such a five-membered pseudo sugar 2-phospholene ring are mentioned, and the oxidation is examined on several substituted 2-phospholenes (1a–i). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:320–325, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10154