Chemistry of Heteroaryltriphenylphosphonium Iodides: Preparation from Iodoheteroaromatics and Elimination of the Phosphonium Iodide Group Using Basic Solvents

α-and γ-Iodoheteroaromatics were found to react with triphenylphosphine to give heteroaromatictriphenylphosphonium iodides in excellent yields.β-Iodoheteroaromatics, which are less reactive with triphenylphosphine compared to α-or γ-compounds, were converted into the corresponding phosphonium iodides using palladium catalysts.Treatment of heteroaryltriphenylphosphonium iodides resulted in the elimination of the phosphonium iodide group using basic solvents such as aqueous sodium hydroxide or ethanol -triethylamine.