P-Substituted 3-phosphabicyclo [3.1.0] hexane 3-oxides from diastereoselective substitution at phosphorus

Preparation of P-amino-3-phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]-hexane 3-oxides either by addition of dichlorocarbene to the double bond of 1-amino-2,5-dihydro-1H-phosphole 1-oxides or by substitution of the P-chloro derivative of the bicyclic system was accomplished. Two different diastereomers are obtained by the two approaches; their ¹³C NMR spectra were interpreted on the basis of the P-ethoxy isomers, whose structures were confirmed by X-ray analysis. The P-hydroxy adduct was also prepared, and it was found that intermolecular O H … O hydrogen bonding connects the molecules together in the solid phase. This effect eliminates the possibility of diastereoisomerism, as was also observed in the case of P-hydroxy tetrahydrophosphinine oxides. Thermolysis of the P-hydroxy adduct is a better way to synthesize 1-hydroxy-1,2-dihydrophosphinine oxides than by hydrolysis of the phosphinic chlorides.