Catalytic Enantioselective Hydrophosphonylation of Aldehydes Using the Iron Complex of a Camphor-Based Tridentate Schiff Base [FeCl(SBAIB-d)]2

An iron(III)-Schiff base-catalyzed, highly enantioselective hydrophosphonylation of various aldehydes is described. Under the optimized reaction conditions, 5mol% of the iron/camphor-based tridentate Schiff base complex [FeCl(SBAIB-d)](2) produces high yields (up to 99%) of -hydroxy phosphonates in excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99%). The merits of this catalytic system are an easily synthesizable catalyst, inexpensive starting materials, practically simple aerobic reaction conditions, and low catalyst loading (5mol%).