Solvent-free and three-component synthesis of 1H,6H-6λ5-[1,2]benzoxaphospholo[2,3-b][1,2]benzoxaphosphol-1-ones

A concise and facile synthesis of a new class of P,O-heterocycles is described. Knoevenagel condensation reaction of a salicylaldehyde and a cyclohexane-1,3-dione forms an α,β-unsaturated intermediate, which undergoes nucleophilic addition of a trialkyl phosphite under solvent-free conditions to afford the title compounds in good to excellent yields.