Substitution of Secondary Benzylic Phosphates with Diarylmethyl Anions

Substitution of diethyl and diphenyl benzylic phosphates, Alk-CH(Ar¹)OP(O)(OR)₂ (R = Et, Ph; Alk = Me, Et, i-Pr; Ar¹ = aryl), with the anions derived from Ar²CH₂ (Ph₂CH₂,9H-xanthene and fluorene) and n-BuLi at –15 °C was studied. For phosphates with Me as an Alk, diethyl phosphates produced Me-CH(Ar¹)CH(Ar²)₂ (Ar¹ = 4-halo-, 4-CN, 4-Me-, 2-Me, 2-Br-, 3-MeO-phenyl and 2-naphthyl). However, an unwanted substitution at the Et group competed with phosphates of Alk = Et- and i-Pr. Fortunately, the corresponding diphenyl phosphates cleanly underwent the desired substitution. Two enantioenriched phosphates, MeCH(Ph)OP(O)(OEt)₂ and EtCH(Ph)OP(O)(OPh)₂, proceeded with complete inversion of the stereochemistry.