The McCormack reaction is a method for the synthesis of organophosphorus compounds.
In this reaction, a 1,3-diene and a source of R2P+ are combined to give phospholenium cation.
The reaction is named after W. B. McCormack, a research chemist at duPont.
An illustrative reaction involves phenyldichlorophosphine and isoprene:[1] The reaction proceeds via a pericyclic [2+4]-process.
The resulting derivatives can be hydrolyzed to give the phosphine oxide.