2-Bromopyridine reacts with elemental phosphorus (red or white) in a superbasic KOH/DMSO (H2O) suspension at 100° C (for red phosphorus) and 75° C (for white phosphorus) over 3h to afford tris (2-pyridyl) phosphine in a 62% yield (from red phosphorus) and a 50% yield (from white phosphorus). Under microwave assistance, the reaction with red phosphorus takes just 20min to produce tris (2-pyridyl) phosphine in 53 ...