Synthesis and structural characterization of 1,4,2-oxazaphosphepines is described. The 1,4,2-oxazaphosphepines were obtained from reaction of chiral 1,3-benzoxazines with dichlorophenylphosphine or triethyl phosphite. The configuration of some of these compounds was stablished by X-ray analysis.

A straightforward and novel method for transformation of readily available 1,3-benzoxazines to secondary phosphonates and α-aminophosphonates using boron trifluoride etherate as catalyst is developed. The formation of phosphonates proceeds through ortho-quinone methide (o-QM) generated in situ, followed by a phospha-Michael addition reaction. On the other hand, the α-aminophosphonates were obtained by iminium ion formation and the subsequence nucleophilic substitution of alkylphosphites. This method can be also used for the preparation of o-hydroxybenzyl ethers through oxa-Michael addition.