Phosphoranyl radicals are essential mediators to bring
about new
radicals but often produce a stoichiometric amount of phosphine oxide/sulfide
waste. Herein, we devised a phosphorus-containing species as a radical
precursor, but without the generation of phosphorus waste. Accordingly,
a catalyst-free synthesis of phosphinic amides from hydroxyl amines
and chlorophosphines via P(III) to P(V) rearrangement is described.
Mechanistically, it may involve the initial formation of a R2N–O–PR2 species that undergoes homolysis
of N–O bonds and subsequent radical recombination.