Electrochemically Oxidative Phosphating of Aldehydes and Ketones

Disclosed herein is the first protocol for the electrochemically oxidative phosphating of aldehydes and ketones to generate α-hydroxyphosphine oxides with diphenylphosphine as the phosphine source. Various phosphating products containing P-C bonds are basically assembled in modest to excellent yields. This electrochemical phosphating was achieved by utilizing a simple undivided cell with foam nickel electrodes at room temperature without the addition of any oxidant or metal catalyst. The prepared α-hydroxyphosphine oxides possess potential application in pharmacological research.