A microwave-assisted hydrophosphinylation of unactivated alkenes with phosphinic acid and its derivatives under metal-free and initiator-free conditions is reported. Such hydrophosphinylations are operationally simple, use aqueous hypophosphorus acid, H-phenylphosphinic acid, and H-alkylphosphinic acids, and seem to proceed by a radical mechanism. Good isolated yields were obtained using a reasonable excess of the appropriate reagent.
Key words
phosphinic acid - organophosphorus compounds - microwaves - unactivated alkenes - hydrophosphinylation