Activation of Carboxylic Acid Using a Phosphonium Salt: A Study towards the Conversion of Carboxylic Acid to Alcohol

Phosphorus can form a strong bond with oxygen and this fact acts as a driving force for many reactions. Based on this concept, activation of the carbonyl group of a carboxylic acid has been done using a bromophosphonium salt to generate a stronger electrophilic carbonyl group. In this communication, various carboxylic acids have been activated using bromotriphenylphosphonium salt and reaction of the intermediate using various nucleophiles produced the desired products in good to excellent yield. Under mild condition, aromatic, aliphatic and heteroaromatic carboxylic acids were converted to the corresponding alcohols in good yields using a suitable nucleophile. Moreover, the product can be isolated in pure form from the reaction mixture by filtration process..