Reduction of Functionalized Tertiary Phosphine Oxides with BH3

A direct stereoselective conversion of tertiary hydroxyalkylphosphine oxides to the corresponding tertiary hydroxyalkylphosphineboranes involving facile reduction of the P=O bond by BH3 under mild conditions has been developed. The unprecedented facility of reduction of the strong P=O bond by BH3, a mild reducing agent, has been achieved through an intramolecular P=O center dot center dot center dot B complexation directed by proximal alpha- or beta-hydroxy groups present in the phosphine oxide structures. As established by two chemical correlations, the developed transformation of hydroxyalkylphosphine oxides into hydroxyalkylphosphine-boranes takes place with complete inversion of configuration at P.