Synthesis of polyfunctionalized methylphosphine oxides

N,N-Dialkylamino(diphenylphosphoryl)chloromethanes, a new type of organophosphorus compounds, were synthesized. On dissolving in polar and low polar solvents, N,N-dialkylamino(diphenylphosphoryl)chloromethanes dissociate spontaneously with the P—C bond cleavage to form the diphenylphosphinite anion Ph2PO−. This was confirmed by the reaction of N,N-dimethylamino(diphenylphosphoryl)chloromethane with electrophilic substrates to form the corresponding addition or substitution products of Ph2PO−. The capability of spontaneous generating the diphenylphosphinite anion considers accessible N,N-dimethylamino(diphenylphosphoryl)chloromethane as a synthetic equivalent of the diphenylphosphinite anion.