Oxidative addition reactions of cyclic aryloxy-, amino- and chloro-phosphites and arsenites

Reaction of cyclic phosphites with 1,2-diketones and with diol/N-chlorodiisopropylamine has been studied. A large number of penta- and hexacoordinated phosphorus derivatives with varying ring sizes have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The reactivity of phosphites is compared with that of arsenites and pentacoordinated phosphoranes. Several phosphonates that are important as synthetic reagents have been prepared by reacting cyclic phosphites with aldehydes.