Here we report that N-phosphonium pyridinium intermediates are unusually reactive for pyridine S N Ar reactions. Specifically, forming phosphonium salts from halopyridines typically requires elevated temperatures and Lewis acid additives. The alternative activation mode described in this paper permits C-P bond formation to occur at ambient temperatures in many cases, and functions across a broad range of substrates.
Keywords: SNAr reaction; phosphonium salts; pyridines; pyridinium salts.