The structure of the adduct between maleic anhydride and triphenylphosphine has been determined by direct synthesis and spectral analysis. It is analogous to a phosphine methylene derivative (WITTIG reagent) stabilized by an u‐carbonyl group. With aldehydes, it gave none or very poor yields of the expected olefins; water (or alcohols) caused the anhydride ring to open, instead of forming triphenylphosphine oxide plus the corresponding hydrocarbon.
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Hudson et al. (1963) studied this question.
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