Direct Phosphorylation of Aldehydes and Alkylation of Ketones: A New Approach to Synthesize of γ-Ketophosphine Oxides

Abstract

An effective and economical acid-promoted three-component reaction for the construction of C-P and C-C bonds for the synthesis of γ-ketone phosphine oxides was developed. Detailed mechanistic experiments confirmed that the reaction proceeds by phospha-aldol-elimination, in which a benzylic carbocation is generated from the phosphorylation of aldehydes, which then reacts with ketone enolates under acidic conditions.