Stereocontrolled synthesis of 3-amino-2-hydroxyalkyl diphenylphosphine oxides mediated by chiral azetidinium salts and epoxyamines

The stereocontrolled synthesis of amino hydroxyalkyl diphenylphosphine oxides has been achieved starting from (2S,3S)-N,N-dibenzyl-3-hydroxy-2-methylazetidinium bromide or (1R),[1′(S)-(dibenzylamino)ethyl]oxirane. The regioselective ring opening of both heterocyclic systems at the less substituted carbon atom with phosphorus nucleophiles proceeded with full stereochemical integrity.