New mixed phosphonate esters by transesterification of pinacol phosphonates and their use in aldehyde and ketone coupling reactions with nonstabilized phosphonates

Alkylpinacol phosphonates were prepared by rhodium-catalyzed olefin hydrophosphorylation, and attempted alpha-deprotonation of the pinacol derived alkyl phosphonates resulted in ring cleavage. The propensity of the alkylpinacol phosphonates to undergo ring opening was exploited to prepare phosphonic acid monomethyl esters in high yield by transesterification in acidulated methanol. Esterification and alkylation with aldehydes or ketones gave beta-hydroxy mixed phosphonate esters. tert-Butyl and benzylic phosphonate ester protective groups were introduced to improve the efficiency and functional group compatibility of beta-hydroxy phosphonate saponification. The beta-hydroxy phosphonic acid monomethyl esters were dehydrated with diisopropylcarbodiimide, which gave oxaphosphetane intermediates that collapse to an olefin. The overall reaction sequence complements the arsenal of Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons-type coupling reactions.