The Mitsunobu reaction is an organic reaction that converts an alcohol into a variety of functional groups, such as an ester, using triphenylphosphine and diethyl azodicarboxylate (DEAD). Of importance to note is that the alcohol undergoes an inversion of stereochemistry.

Several reviews have been published.

Reaction mechanism

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The reaction mechanism of the Mitsunobu reaction is fairly complex. The identity of intermediates and the roles they play has been the subject of debate.

Initially, the triphenyl phosphine (2) makes a nucleophilic attack upon diethyl azodicarboxylate (1) producing a betaine intermediate 3, which deprotonates the carboxylic acid (4) to form the ion pair 5. The carboxylate ion deprotonates the alcohol (6) forming an alkoxide that can form the key oxyphosphonium ion 8. The ratio and interconversion of intermediates 8 - 11 depend on the carboxylic acid pKa and the solvent polarity. Althought several phosphorus intermediates are present, the attack of the carboxylate anion upon intermediate 8 is the only productive pathway forming the desired product 12 and triphenylphosphine oxide (13).

Hughes et al. has found that the formation of the ion pair 5 is very fast. The formation of the oxyphosphonium intermediate 8 is slow and the facilitated by the alkoxide. Therefore, the overall rate of reaction is controlled by carboxylate basicity and solvation.

Variations

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Many other functional groups can serve as nucleophiles besides carboxylic acids. For the reaction to be successful, the nucleophile must have a pKa less than 15.

References

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1. Mitsunobu, O.; Yamada, Y. Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan 1967, 40, 2380-2382.
2. Mitsunobu, O. Synthesis 1981, 1-28. (Review)
3. Hughes, D. L. Org. React. 1992, 42, 335-656. (Review)
4. Hughes, D. L. Org. Prep. 1996, 28, 127-164. (Review)
5. Grochowski, E. H., B. D.; Kupper, R. J.; Michejda, C. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1982, 104, 6876-6877. ()
6. Camp, D. J., I. D. J. Org. Chem. 1989, 54, 3045-3049. ()
7. Camp, D. J., I. D. J. Org. Chem. 1989, 54, 3049-3054. ()
8. Hughes, D. L. R., R. A.; Bergan, J. J.; Grabowski, E. J. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1988, 110, 6487-6491. ()
9. Hegedus, L. S.; Holden, M. S.; McKearin, J. M. Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 7, p.501 (1990); Vol. 62, p.48 (1984). (Article)
10. Kurosawa, W.; Kan, T.; Fukuyama, T. Organic Syntheses, Coll. Vol. 10, p.482 (2004); Vol. 79, p.186 (2002). (Article)

External links

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• The Mitsunobu Reaction by Kevin Jantzi (PDF)

See also

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• Appel reaction

Organic reactions

Mitsunobu-Reaktion | 光延反応 | 光延反应