General description

Tributylphosphine (TBP) is a potential nucleophile. It acts as a weak base in organic solvents. It is an important catalyst for the acylation reactions. It is an efficient promoting reagent for the ring-opening reaction of various epoxides and aziridines. TBP in conjugation with 1,1′-(azodicarbonyl)dipiperidine (ADDP) constitutes Mitsunobu reagent. This reactive phosphine allows the formation of a strained lactone.

Application

Tributylphosphine was used in the preparation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) functionalized with an organometallic bifunctional thiol containing Pt(II) centers.
It may be used in the following processes:

As reducing agent for alkyl disulfides and aromatic disulfides.
As catalyst for the synthesis of 2-substituted 1,3-benzoselenazoles.
As promoter for the ring opening of epoxides and aziridines with nucleophiles.
As a reagent in the preparation of 6-substituted penicillanate esters by reduction of 6-bromo-6-substituted penicillanate esters in high diastereoselectivity.
As a catalyst in the acylation reaction of alcohols.
As a catalyst to prepare rotaxanes by the acylation of corresponding pseudorotaxanes using 3,5-dimethylbenzoic anhydride.
As a catalyst to prepare vinyl thioethers by the Michael addition of ethanethiol to various alkynyl ketones.
As a promoter in the conjugate addition of non-nucleophilic N-containing compounds with Michael acceptors.