Potentially prebiotic Passerini-type reactions of phosphates

Monoalkyl phosphates can take the place of carboxylic acids in the Passerini reaction, but excesses of aldehyde an isonitriles are required, and transfer of the phosphate to the newly formed hydroxyl group does not take place. By rendering the phosphate addition intramolecular, the efficiency of the reaction is substantially increased. Phosphate transfer can take place when cyanovinyl phosphate is used rather than a monoalkyl phosphate.