Visible-light-mediated α-phosphorylation of N-aryl tertiary amines through the formation of electron-donor–acceptor complexes: synthetic and mechanistic studies

Abstract

This work describes an efficient α-phosphorylation of a wide variety of N-aryl tertiary amines under mild conditions. It consists of a simple combination of amines (electron donors) with N-ethoxy-2-methylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate (electron acceptor) in the presence of P(V)–H compounds under visible light irradiation. Physical organic investigations support the formation of an electron-donor–acceptor complex (amine/pyridinium ion) as a key intermediate.