A Convenient Method for the Preparation of N-Heterocyclic Bromophosphines: Excellent Precursors to the Corresponding N-Heterocyclic Phosphenium Salts

An in situ redox method is employed to prepare N-heterocyclic bromophosphines in good yield and purity. Such bromophosphines may be treated with a variety of bromide-abstracting reagents to produce the corresponding N-heterocyclic phosphenium salts in excellent yield.