Facile synthesis of cyclic α-perfluoroalkyl-α-aminophosphonates

Addition of diethylphosphite to cyclic α-perfluoalkyl substituted imines in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate as a catalyst presents an efficient route for racemic saturated cyclic α-perfluoroalkyl-α-aminophosphonates. Hydrolysis of latter compounds gives the corresponding α-aminoalkanephosphonic acids existing as the corresponding zwitterions according IR and X-ray data.