Abstract: Tetrachlorophthalimide is shown to be an excellent agent for Mitsunobu displacement of primary hydroxyl groups in a wide variety of substrates. Secondary alcohols also react readily, except in carbohydrate derivatives where there is a low rate of success. In a competition experiment between phthalimide and its tetrachloro counterpart, there was no trace of a product from the former. Key words: Mitsunobu, tetrachlorophthalimide, hydroxyl ...
