The Pudovik reaction (addition of organophosphorus compounds containing a labile P-H bond with alkenes and alkynes) can progess via a radical or (and) ionic mechanism. A comparative and systematic study including various reagents and different activation methods (heating, photochemical or ultrasonic irradiation, and dry medium supported reactions) is presented. Photolysis is the most efficient method for the radical processes, but in a few examples, ultrasonic irradiation can be more appropriate since the reaction time is shorter and ultrasound did not induce side-reactions (in particular Z/E isomerization). Dry medium process on basic solid support is the best anionic activation (yield, time, selectivity, purification facilities). Ultrasound, by its mechanical effects, can contribute to increase yield compared to the classical thermal method under these basic conditions. All the activation methods are efficient whatever the unsaturated substrates for the phosphine reactivity, whereas the appropriate activation method is exclusively determined by the nature of the unsaturated system for the thiophosphine (or phosphine oxide) reactivity.

Direct synthesis of free (alpha-hydroxyalkyl)phosphinic acid amphiphiles 1 can be readily realized by sonication of the heterogeneous mixture of 50% aqueous hypophosphorous acid and long-chain aldehydes in the presence of catalytic amounts of hydrochloric acid. Oxidation of these phosphinic acids by DMSO in the presence of catalytic amounts of iodine quantitatively leads to the corresponding phosphonic acids 3. IR spectra of the phosphinic acids 1 in the condensed phase and in solution reveal the presence of intra- and intermolecular associations. Dissociation constants of the phosphorus acids 1 and 3 determined by potentiometric and (31)P NMR titrations show a good correlation between the two methods. The phosphinic acid amphiphiles 1 are slightly stronger than the corresponding phosphonic acids 3. (alpha-Hydroxyalkyl)phosphonium chlorides are prepared in good yields from the phosphine PH(3) and long-chain aldehydes in acidic media.

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