Site-selective phosphorylation of arylphospholes through reaction with phosphorus tribromide

The reaction of 1-(tri-tert-butylphenyl)phosphole (1) with phosphorus tribromide gave the 3-dibromophosphino intermediate (2) selectively that was useful in the synthesis of phosphonic amides 4, H-phosphinic amide 6 and H-phosphinates 8. A similar transformation of the 1-(triisopropylphenyl)phosphole (9) led to a 2-substitution furnishing phosphonic amides 12 or H-phosphinates 14. The phosphorylated phospholes (4, 6, 8) were tested as ligands of transition metal complexes in hydroformylation.