Stereoselective synthesis of 1,4,2‐oxazaphosphorines as precursors of chiral α‐aminophosphonic acids by intramolecular heterocyclization of β‐aldiminoalkylphosphites

The intramolecular version of nucleophilic additon of phosphites to imines was carried out for the first time taking as an example β‐aldiminoalkylphosphites, formed from chlorophosphites and β‐aldiminoalcohols N‐(benzylidene)‐2‐aminoethanol and R‐(+)‐N‐(benzylidene)‐2‐aminobutanol‐1]. In these reactions, stereoisomeric 1,4,2‐oxazaphosphorines were obtained in good yields. R‐(+)‐N‐(benzylidene)‐2‐aminobutanol‐1 being used as a precursor, nucleophilic attack by P(III) atom on electrophilic C atom of the CN group proceeds stereospecifically with participation of only re‐face of the two possible diastereotopic faces of the imine double bond to give the epimeric at phosphorus (3R,5R)‐2‐(β‐chloroethyl)‐2‐oxo‐3‐phenyl‐5‐ethyl‐1,4,2‐oxazaphosphorines as precursors of nonracemic α‐aminophosphonic acids. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:56–61, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10054