All reactions were carried out using air-free techniques under argon or prepared in a glovebox (Innovative Technology Inc., USA) under a nitrogen atmosphere and sealed, unless otherwise stated. All reagents were obtained from commercial suppliers (Fluorochem, Fisher Scientific, Apollo Scientific, or Merck) and used without further purification, unless otherwise stated. Anhydrous toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dichloromethane (DCM) were dried using a Pure-Solv 400 solvent purification system (Innovative Technology Inc., USA), while anhydrous benzene was purchased from Merck and used as received. Thin Layer Chromatography was performed on silica gel pre-coated aluminium plates (60 Å, F254 UV indicator) purchased from Merck. The thin layer chromatograms were analysed by UV (254 nm, UVP mineralight UVG-11 lamp) and staining either with basic KMnO4 solution [KMnO4 (6 g), K2CO3 (40 g), NaOH (5 mL, 10% w/w) in water (600 mL)] or an ethanolic solution of phosphomolybdic acid [phosphomolybdic acid hydrate (10 g) in ethanol (100 mL)]. Flash Column Chromatography purification was performed with 40-63 μm particle size silica gel 60 Å purchased from Fluorochem. NMR spectroscopy was performed using a Bruker AV3-400 spectrometer. H NMR, C NMR and 31 P NMR spectra were recorded on this spectrometer operating at 400 MHz, 101 MHz, 162 MHz respectively. All spectral data were acquired at 295 K. For 1 H and C NMR spectra, chemical shifts (δ) are quoted in parts per million (ppm) relative to the following residual solvent peaks; δH 7.26 and δC 77.2 ppm for CDCl3, δH 7.16 and δC 128.0 ppm for C6D6, δH1 1.72 ppm and δH2 3.58 ppm for THF-d8.