Expedient Synthesis of Substituted (Diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)benzenes

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of structurally diverse
(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)benzenes is described. The
reaction employs readily available carboxylic acids, chlorodiphenylphosphine, and water as the reagents. A 97%
reduction in the reaction times and substantially higher yields
of products result, up to a 60% increase, if the reactions are
performed under microwave irradiation. The first examples
of transition-metal-catalyzed reactions applied to 4-bromo-1,3-bis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)benzene are also reported.