Tf2O-Promoted Activating Strategy of Phosphate Analogues: Synthesis of Mixed Phosphates and Phosphinate.

A metal-, toxic chloride reagent-free activating strategy of various phosphates has been developed. This method enables the facile synthesis of functional phosphates such as alkyl phosphates, aza phosphates, thiophosphate, and mixed diaryl phosphates. A transient phosphorylpyridin-1-ium species in situ generated from phosphates with Tf2O/pyridine readily undergoes a substitution reaction with diverse nucleophiles to form versatile phosphate compounds.