Palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of benzylic phosphonates

Abstract

A new synthetic route to access diarylmethyl phosphonates is presented. The transformation enables the introduction of aromatic groups on benzylic phosphonates via a deprotonative cross-coupling process (DCCP). The Pd(OAc) 2/CataCXium A-based catalyst afforded a reaction between benzyl diisopropyl phosphonate derivatives and aryl bromides in good to excellent isolated yields (64-92%). © 2014 American Chemical Society.