Molybdenum trioxide catalyzed oxidative cross-dehydrogenative coupling of benzylic sp3 C–H bonds: synthesis of α-aminophosphonates under aerobic conditions

Molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) catalyzed efficient oxidative cross-dehydrogenative-coupling (CDC) method for C–H functionalization of N-aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines has been explored. This user-friendly method of synthesizing α-aminophosphonates employs 1.1 equiv of dialkyl-H-phosphonate under aerobic condition. Formation of new C–P bonds from unfunctionalized starting materials under environmentally benign conditions provides an excellent avenue for the synthesis of biologically active α-aminophosphonates.