Expedient synthesis of substituted (diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)benzenes

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of structurally diverse (diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)benzenes is described. The reaction employs readily available carboxylic acids, chlorodiphenylphosphine, and water as the reagents. A 97% reduction in the reaction times and substantially higher yields of products result, up to a 60% increase, if the reactions are performed under microwave irradiation. The first examples of transition-metal-catalyzed reactions applied to 4-bromo-1,3-bis(diphenylphosphinoylmethyl)benzene are also reported. © 2007 American Chemical Society.