A general synthesis of phosphaalkenes at zirconium with liberation of phosphaformamides.

A general, atom-economical method for the synthesis of phosphaalkenes is reported via the net coupling of primary alkyl or aryl phosphines with aryl or alkyl isocyanides at zirconium. The phosphorus-containing ligand can be liberated as the phosphaformamide from zirconium by reaction with an organic electrophile.