Disclosed
herein is the first protocol for the electrochemically
oxidative phosphating of aldehydes and ketones to generate α-hydroxyphosphine
oxides with diphenylphosphine as the phosphine source. Various phosphating
products containing P–C bonds are basically assembled in modest
to excellent yields. This electrochemical phosphating was achieved
by utilizing a simple undivided cell with foam nickel electrodes at
room temperature without the addition of any oxidant or metal catalyst.
The prepared α-hydroxyphosphine oxides possess potential application
in pharmacological research.