Exceptional effect of nitro substituent on the phosphonation of imines: the first report on phosphonation of imines to α-iminophosphonates and α-(N-phosphorylamino)phosphonates

Abstract

A novel and chemoselective method is reported for the simple phosphonation of imines. By change of the electronic effects of the substituents, this method offers the selective synthesis of either α-iminophosphonates or α-(N-phosphorylamino)phosphonates. The mild reaction condition makes this protocol very attractive for synthesis of these two classes of phosphorous compounds.