Abstract: A primary phosphine or a secondary phosphine is reacted with an ester compound selected from the group consisting of; a phosphate triester; a phosphonate diester; a sulfate diester; and a sulfonate ester, to form a phosphonium salt of formula (VII) wherein each of RQ, RX, RY, and RZ is independently hydrocarbyl and X? is a phosphate, phosphonate, sulfate, or sulfonate. These phosphonium salts may find utility in a wide range of applications, including as surfactants, as polar solvents (ionic liquids), as antimicrobial agents, and as a component of spinning finish in polyamide fibre processing.

Abstract: Tertiary phosphines are prepared by reacting a phosphine (PH3 or a primary or secondary phosphine) with a cyclic alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound having no more than one C?C double bond conjugated with a carbonyl group. The inventive tertiary phosphines can have R groups that are the same or different. The inventive tertiary phosphines may be used as ligands for metal catalysts or as starting materials for preparing phosphonium salts or ylids.