New process for the preparation of sulfides and selenides of sulfonylarylphosphines, useful as metal complexing agents and co-catalysts

The process entails the direct reaction of a sulfonylarylphosphine (or a metallic salt) in aqueous solution with a group VIA element. The preparation is carried out in the aqueous phase between at least one sulfonylarylphosphine, or metallic salt, and sulfur or selenium. The sulfonylarylphosphine conforms to the general formula (I): Z' = a radical of formula (II), a residue of formula (III) or 4 - 8C cycloalkyl (optionally substituted by one or more 1 - 4C alkyls); R = 2 - 10C alkylene or cycloalkylene (mono-or poly-cyclic); phenylene or naphthylene or chain of one or more 4 - 8C cycloalkylenes or one or more phenylenes and several methylenes; Ar , Ar , Ar = aryl e.g. phenyl, biphenyl or naphthyl; M = mineral or organic cation, conferring water solubility; Y , Y , Y = 1 - 4C alkyl or alkoxy, halogen, nitrile, nitro, amino, hydroxyl or a residue of formula (IV); Ar = phenylene, biphenylene or naphthylene; Ar , Ar = Ar , Ar , Ar ; n1, n2, n3 = 0 - 3, at least one being 1; and m1, m2, m3 = 0 - 5, at least one being 1. An Independent claim is also included for the complexing agent obtained by the process. L'invention a pour objet un procédé de préparation de sulfures et séléniures de sulfonylarylphosphines par réaction en phase aqueuse d'au moins une sulfonylarylphosphine ou un de ses sels métalliques avec un élément du groupe VIA de la classification périodique pris dans le groupe formé par le soufre et le sélénium et des dérivés de sulfonylarylphosphines et de ces métalloïdes susceptibles d'être obtenus par ce procédé. Ces composés peuvent être utilisés notamment comme agents complexants des métaux.