NaIO 4 /air-initiated phosphorylation of alcohols with H-phosphine oxides for the construction of P(O)-O bonds in water.

A facile and efficient protocol for P(O)-O bond formation was discovered through NaIO 4 /air-initiated phosphorylation of alcohols with H-phosphine oxides in water. This reaction showed good functional group tolerance and a broad substrate scope, providing an alternative method for constructing P(O)-O bonds. Mechanistic studies suggested that a phosphoryl radical-involving process from H-phosphine oxides facilitated the phosphorylation of alcohols under air.