Facile Synthesis of alpha-Amino Phosphonates in Water by Kabachnik-Fields Reaction Using Magnesium Dodecyl Sulfate

The three-component reaction of aldehydes, amines and triethyl or diphenyl phosphite was efficiently catalyzed by magnesium dodecyl sulfate at room temperature in water to give various a-amino phosphonates in high yields. The catalyst is easily available from inexpensive sodium dodecyl sulfate and magnesium bromide. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 22:358-362, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/hc.20689