Among 14 oxidometallic species examined for catalytic phosphorylation of the tested alcohols, oxidomolybdenum tetrachloride (MoOCl 4 ) was found to be the most efficient with a negligible background reaction mediated by triethylamine (Et 3 N). The new catalytic protocol can be applied to the chemoselective phosphorylations of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols as well as the substitution-free phosphorylations of allylic, propargylic, and benzylic alcohols. Functionalized alcohols bearing acetonide, tetrahydropyranyl ether, tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether, or ester group are also amenable to the new catalytic protocol. The most difficult scenarios involve substitution-free phosphorylations of 1-phenylethanol and 1-(2-naphthyl)ethanol which can be effected in 95 and 90% yields, respectively. ESI-MS, IR, 1 H, and 31 P NMR spectroscopic analyses of the reaction progress suggest the intermediacy of an alkoxyoxidomolybdenum trichloride-triethylamine adduct such as [(RO)Mo(O)Cl 3 -Et 3 N] to be responsible for the catalytic turnover.