Direct aerobic oxidative esterification and arylation of P(O)-OH compounds with alcohols and diaryliodonium triflates

Copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative esterification of P(O)-OH compounds is achieved using alcohols as efficient esterification reagents, giving the expected products with good to moderate yields. Furthermore, it is shown that the arylation of P(O)-OH compounds proceeds efficiently to produce the corresponding products via the treatment of diaryliodonium triflates under mild reaction conditions. It is a simple way to produce a broad spectrum of functionalized phosphinates, phosphonates, and phosphates from basic starting materials with good to excellent yields. The protocol is convenient for practical application. A plausible mechanism has been proposed for the reaction.