A novel synthesis of α- and γ- fluoroalkylphosphonates

Abstract

α-Hydroxybenzylphosphonate esters are efficiently converted into α-fluorobenzylphosphonate esters by diethylaminosulphur trifluoride while the corresponding α-hydroxyallyl- and α-hydroxycinnamyl-phosphonates undergo fluorination with allylic re-arrangement; the corresponding phosphonic acids are formed by de-esterification using bromo- or iodotrimethylsilane.