Copper(I)-catalyzed hydrophosphination of styrenes

Hydrophosphination of styrenes has been accomplished with metal salts for the first time. (CuOTf)(2).toluene complex is the catalyst of choice, but CuCl can also be used. In-situ EPR and NMR studies suggest Cu(I) as the catalytically active metal species, giving exclusively the anti-Markovnikov product. Phosphine oxides or beta-ketophosphine oxides can be prepared in one-pot by oxidation with molecular oxygen. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.