A solvent-free facile synthesis of (E)-bis(phosphonium)ethylenes from organo-phosphines and TfOCH2CF2H reagent

(E)-Bis(phosphonium)ethylenes were synthesized from aryl-, alkyl-, and arylalkylphosphines under solvent-free conditions using TfOCH2CF2H as reagent. The reaction allows for a convenient access to vinylenebis(trialkylphosphonium) salts in good to high yields.