Palladium-catalyzed benzylic substitution of benzyl carbonates with phosphorus nucleophiles

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/cl.170901

A wide range of benzyl carbonates reacted with dimethyl phosphonate or diphenylphosphine oxide in the presence of the palladium catalyst, [Pd(η³-allyl)Cl]₂DPEphos, to give dimethyl benzylphosphonates and benzyldiphenylphosphine oxides in high yields. The catalytic phosphonylation was applied to the one-pot synthesis of alkenes from the benzyl esters.