Deprotonation of the Seyferth-Gilbert reagent A give an anion B which reacts with the ketone to form the oxaphosphatane D. Elimination of dimethylphosphate E gives the vinyldiazo-intermediate Fa and Fb. The generation of nitrogen gas gives a vinylcarbeneG which via a 1,2-migration forms the desired alkyne H.
Dimethyl (diazomethyl)phosphonate can be generated in situ from dimethyl-1-diazo-2-oxopropylphosphonate (also called Bestmann's reagent) by reaction with methanol and potassium carbonate. Reaction of Bestmann's reagent with aldehydes gives terminal alkynes often in very high yield.[4][5]
↑D. Seyferth, R. S. Marmor and P. Hilbert (1971). "Reactions of dimethylphosphono-substituted diazoalkanes. (MeO)2P(O)CR transfer to olefins and 1,3-dipolar additions of (MeO)2P(O)C(N2)R". J. Org. Chem.36 (10): 1379–1386. doi:10.1021/jo00809a014.
↑J. C. Gilbert and U. Weerasooriya (1982). "Diazoethenes: their attempted synthesis from aldehydes and aromatic ketones by way of the Horner-Emmons modification of the Wittig reaction. A facile synthesis of alkynes". J. Org. Chem.47 (10): 1837–1845. doi:10.1021/jo00349a007.
↑D. G. Brown, E. J. Velthuisen, J. R. Commerford, R. G. Brisbois and T. H. Hoye (1996). "A Convenient Synthesis of Dimethyl (Diazomethyl)phosphonate (Seyferth/Gilbert Reagent)". J. Org. Chem.61 (7): 2540–2541. doi:10.1021/jo951944n.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑S. Müller, B. Liepold, G. Roth and H. J. Bestmann* (1996). "An Improved One-pot Procedure for the Synthesis of Alkynes from Aldehydes". Synlett (06): 521–522. doi:10.1055/s-1996-5474.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑G. Roth, B. Liepold, S. Müller and H. J. Bestmann (2004). "Further Improvements of the Synthesis of Alkynes from Aldehydes". Synthesis (1): 59–62. doi:10.1055/s-2003-44346.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)