Phospha-Michael addition of phosphorus nucleophiles to α,β-unsaturated malonates using 3-aminopropylated silica gel as an efficient and recyclable catalyst

3-Aminopropylated silica gel, which is prepared from commercially available and cheap starting materials, is introduced as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the phospha-Michael addition of phosphorus nucleophiles to alpha,beta-unsaturated malonates. Short reaction times, mild reaction conditions, ease of recovery and catalyst reusability make this method a new, economic and waste-free chemical process for the synthesis of beta-phosphonomalonates. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.