An eco-friendly procedure for one-pot synthesis of β-phosphonomalonates: micellar solution of sodium stearate catalyzes tandem Knoevenagel–phospha-Michael reaction of aldehydes, malonitrile, and phosphites in aqueous media

A new, one-pot convenient method for the synthesis of a variety of β-phosphonomalonates by a tandem Knoevenagel–phospha-Michael reaction of phosphite esters with aryl/heteroaryl/alkyl aldehydes and malonitrile in an aqueous micellar solution of sodium stearate is described. This method offers several advantages, such as using a cheap and environmentally benign reaction media, low loadings of sodium stearate as catalyst and offers good yields.