Abstract Phosphine generated from the red phosphorus in the system KOH-H 2 O-toluene adds regio-and chemoselectively to vinyl sulfides under radical initiation conditions with the formation of tris (2-organylthioethyl) phosphines, which are easily oxidized by elemental sulfur and selenium to the corresponding phosphine sulfides and phosphine selenides in 54– 78% yield. The obtained adducts are split when treated with sodium amide in THF to give ...
