Tris(cyanoethyl)phosphine is the
organophosphorus compound
Organophosphorus compounds are organic compounds containing phosphorus. They are used primarily in pest control as an alternative to chlorinated hydrocarbons that persist in the environment. Some organophosphorus compounds are highly effective in ...
with the formula P(CH
2CH
2CN)
3. It is white solid that is air stable, which is unusual for a trialkylphosphine. It is prepared by the
hydrophosphination of
acrylonitrile with
phosphine.
The compound has been the subject of much research. For example, it is an effective reagent for the desulfurization of organic
disulfides.
[{{cite journal, doi=10.1021/jo00008a014, title=Selective Reduction of Disulfides by Tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine, journal=The Journal of Organic Chemistry, volume=56, issue=8, pages=2648–2650, year=1991, last1=Burns, first1=John A., last2=Butler, first2=James C., last3=Moran, first3=John, last4=Whitesides, first4=George M.]
References
Tertiary phosphines