Synthesis of functionalized 2-diphenylphosphinoethyl-containing phosphonous and phosphinic acids.

A convenient synthesis of functionalized 2-diphenylphosphinoethyl-containing phosphonous and phosphinic acids has been developed. Radical addition of bis(trimethylsiloxy)-phosphine to diphenyl(vinyl)phosphine and phenyl(divinyl)phosphine proceeds regioselectively to give new 2-phosphino-substituted ethylphosphonites, the subsequent functionalization of which affords the target phosphinic acids and a variety of their derivatives. The resulting compounds are of interest as effective water-soluble ligands and promising biologically active substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]