The first Ni-catalyzed C-O/P-H cross-coupling producing organophosphorus compounds is disclosed. This method features wide generality in regard to both C-O and P-H compounds: for C-O compounds, the readily available alcohol derivatives of aryl, alkenyl, benzyl, and allyl are applicable, and for P-H compounds, both >P(V)(O)H compounds (secondary phosphine oxide, H-phosphinate, and H-phosphonate) and hydrogen phosphines (>P(III)H) can be used as the substrates. Thus, a variety of valuable C(sp(2))-P and C(sp(3))-P compounds can be readily obtained in good to excellent yields by this new strategy.

A silver-free palladium-catalyzed dehydrogenative phosphorylation of terminal alkynes with hydrogen phosphine oxides has been developed. Both aromatic and aliphatic terminal alkynes including those bearing functional groups coupled readily with hydrogen phosphine oxides, producing the corresponding value-added alkynylphosphine oxides in good to excellent yields. This reaction could be easily conducted at gram scales (10 mmol) without any decrease of the reaction efficiency, showing highly potential synthetic value in organic synthesis. A plausible Pd(0)/Pd(II) mechanism is proposed.