TheMcCormack reaction is a method for the synthesis oforganophosphorus compounds. In this reaction, a 1,3-diene and a source of R2P+ are combined to give phospholenium cation. The reaction is named after W. B. McCormack, a research chemist at duPont.
An illustrative reaction involvesphenyldichlorophosphine andisoprene:[1]
The reaction proceeds via apericyclic [2+4]-process. The resulting derivatives can be hydrolyzed to give thephosphine oxide.Dehydrohalogenation gives thephosphole.[2]