Chemoselective reduction of the phosphoryl bond of O-alkyl phosphinates and related compounds: an apparently impossible transformationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Syntheses and characterisations of compounds 1-8, their analogous boranes and other experimental details. See DOI: 10.1039/c5cc06389b

A method is reported for the phosphoryl bond cleavage of O -alkyl phosphinates, phosphinothioates and certain phosphonamidates to furnish the corresponding P( iii ) borane adducts. The two-step procedure relies upon initial activation of the phosphoryl bond with an alkyl triflate, followed by reduction of the resulting intermediate using lithium borohydride. A method is reported for the phosphoryl bond cleavage of O -alkyl phosphinates, phosphinothioates and certain phosphonamidates to furnish the corresponding P( iii ) borane adducts.