Reaction of secondary phosphine chalcogenides with 2,2,2-trichloroacetaldehyde

The nucleophilic addition of secondary phosphine chalcogenides to 2,2,2-trichloroacetaldehyde proceeds under mild noncatalytic conditions (12–25dgC, 15–90 min) with the formation of functional tertiary phosphine chalcogenides, containing hydroxy groups in up to 98% yield. Using the method of concurrent reactions the reactivity of secondary phosphine chalcogenides in this reaction was shown to decrease in the order: (PhCH2CH2)2P(O)H ≫ (PhCH2CH2)2P(S)H > (PhCH2CH2)2P(Se)H, and the secondary bis[2-(2-pyridyl) ethyl]-phosphine oxide was more reactive than bis(2-phenethyl)phosphine oxide.