Stereospecific synthesis of diastereoisomerically pure (–)-(Rp)-O-menthyl methylphenylphosphinite and ethylphenylphosphinite: key intermediates in synthesis of chiral tertiary phosphines

Abstract

The reaction of the diastereoisomerically pure (–)-(R_P)-O-menthyl methylphenylphosphinite (9) and (–)-(R_P)-O-menthyl ethylphenylphosphinite (2) with organolithium reagents has been found to give chiral tertiary phosphines (10) and (11) with a very high optical purity.