CeCl3·7H2O: a highly efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 1-substituted-octahydro-[1,3,2]diazaphospholo[1,5-a]pyridine-1-oxide

An efficient and simple protocol is reported for the synthesis of a new class of 1-substituted-octahydro-[1,3,2]diazaphospholo[1,5-a]pyridine-1-oxides in good to excellent yield (88–95%) via Michaelis–Arbuzov rearrangement. Condensation of diamido phosphite with various halides at 60 °C using CeCl3·7H2O as a highly efficient catalyst afforded the products within a short period of reaction time. This procedure is mild, efficient, and non-toxic and stability of the catalyst is the merit of this process. Therefore, this protocol being environmentally benign and efficient, serves as an alternative procedure for the preparation of the title compounds.