Synthesis of Disubstituted Phosphinates via Palladium-Catalyzed Hydrophosphinylation of H-Phosphinic Acids

The first metal-catalyzed hydrophosphinylation of unsaturated hydrocarbons with H-phosphinic acids is described. A strategy to activate the P-H bond through control of the tautomeric equilibrium using ethylene glycol is described. The reactions also avoid chromatographic purification.