The unusual stereochemical behavior in the addition of phosphites to N‐1‐naphthyl terephthalic and isophthalic Schiff bases

The reaction of N‐α‐naphthylimines of terephthalic and isophthalic aldehydes with dialkyl and diaryl phosphites gave corresponding N‐α‐naphthylamino‐phosphonates in fair yields. An unusual stereochemical behavior was observed and the explanation for such a phenomenon was suggested. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 12:27–32, 2001