Synthesis of phenylalanine-derived β-hydroxy and β-keto phosphine oxides -investigation of the configurational stability of lithiated phosphine oxides using the Hoffmann test

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(96)00814-3

Reaction between a phenylalanine-derived aldehyde and a lithiated phosphine oxide (the Hoffmann test) has been used to demonstrate that lithiated phosphine oxides are not configurationally stable in THF at -78°C on the timescale of thier reaction with the aldehyde. Additionally, these reactions generate synthetically useful products. Copyright