BF₃-Et₂O promoted bifunctionalization of aldehydes for the synthesis of arylmethyl substituted organophosphorus compounds

A simple and efficient protocol for the synthesis of arylmethyl substituted organophosphorus compounds is presented. This method involves the reaction of diphenyl phosphite with aldehydes in the presence of BF₃-Et₂O. In this method, BF₃-Et₂O plays a dual role, as it facilitates the generation of both hydrophosphonylated intermediate and phenol from diphenyl phosphite. A significant feature of this approach is its tolerance to the presence of external nucleophiles, such as phenol, aliphatic thiols, indole and 3-methylanisole. The simplicity of the reaction conditions and the high yields achieved make this method promising for applications in areas where phosphonate compounds are of interest.