Formation of aryl dialkylphosphinates from dialkylphosphinous chlorides and arylmagnesium bromides under oxidative conditions

The reaction of dialkylphosphinous chlorides (1) with arylmagnesium bromide s carried out in the air atmosphere was, found to afford aryldialkylphosphi ne oxides (2) and aryl dialkylphosphinates (3) in a comparable quantity. Fo rmation of the latter product (3) is the first example that an aryl-dialkyl phosphine, formed as an intermediate, is autooxidized to the corresponding phosphinate. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.