(R,R,R)-Tris(2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)- and (S,S,S)-tris(2-hydroxy-2-methylethyl)phosphine: water-soluble chiral trialkylphosphines with C3-symmetry

The first α- and β-chiral water-soluble trialkylmonophosphines, 1 and 2, respectively, both with C3 symmetry, were synthesised from sodium phosphide and chiral mesylates, accessible from (S)-ethyl lactate. X-ray structures of a corresponding 2:1 gold(I) complex [12Au(I)]OTf and of a borane complex 2·BH3 were determined.