1.1: (ortho-HON=CMeC6H4PdCl)2; K2CO3 / dimethylformamide / 12 h / 120 °C 1.2: 54 percent / BuLi; HMPA / tetrahydrofuran; hexane / -78 - 20 °C 2.1: Mg; HgCl2 / methanol / 24 h / 20 - 50 °C 2.2: 30 percent / KOH / methanol / 24 h / 20 °C View Scheme

1.1: (ortho-HON=CMeC6H4PdCl)2; K2CO3 / dimethylformamide / 12 h / 120 °C 1.2: 54 percent / BuLi; HMPA / tetrahydrofuran; hexane / -78 - 20 °C 2.1: 42 percent / (Me2N)3P=NP(NMe2)2=NEt / tetrahydrofuran / 20 °C 3.1: Mg; HgCl2 / methanol / 24 h / 20 °C 3.2: 38 percent / KOH / methanol / 24 h / 20 °C View Scheme

[Me2N]3P=NP(=NEt)[NMe2]2 in tetrahydrofuran T=20°C; 19 h;

1.1: (ortho-HON=CMeC6H4PdCl)2; K2CO3 / dimethylformamide / 12 h / 120 °C 1.2: 54 percent / BuLi; HMPA / tetrahydrofuran; hexane / -78 - 20 °C 2.1: 70 percent / (Me2N)3P=NP(NMe2)2=NEt / tetrahydrofuran / 20 °C 3.1: Mg; HgCl2 / methanol / 24 h / 20 °C 3.2: 50 percent / KOH / methanol / 24 h / 20 °C View Scheme