Highly selective synthesis of 1-phenylpentane-1, 4-diones, and (E)-5-hydroxy-5-phenylpent-3-en-2-ones catalyzed by organophosphorus compounds

1‐Phenylpentane‐1, 4‐diones, and (E)‐5‐hydroxy‐5‐phenylpent‐3‐en‐2‐ones were synthesized via organophosphine‐catalyzed addition reaction of but‐3‐en‐2‐one with aldehydes. The features of the present protocols include high selectivity, operational simplicity, atom economy, and mild reaction conditions without transition metals. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 20:425–430, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20568