Reaction of carbonyl-stabilized sulfonium ylides with trivalent derivatives of group VB elements

1. Triethylamine demethylates 2-methylphenyl- and 2-dimethylsulfuranylidenedimedon to give, in the presence of sodium tetraphenylboranate, methyltriethylammonium tetraphenylboranate. 2. Triphenylstibine and triphenylbismuth demethylate 2-methylphenyl sulfur anylidenedimedon, which is indicated by the isolation of 2-phenylsulfenyldimedon in these reactions. © 1979 Plenum Publishing Corporation