Synthesis of phosphinate analogues of the phospholipid anti-tumour agent hexadecylphosphocholine (miltefosine)

Efficient synthesis of phosphinate analogues (in six steps and 68–69% overall yields) of the anti-tumour agent miltefosine are reported, which involve a radical hydrophosphinylation addition reaction followed by conversion to the P(III) silyloxy intermediate and Michael-type addition as the key steps.