Environmentally benign synthesis of h-phosphinic acids using a water-tolerant, recyclable polymer-supported catalyst.

[reaction: see text] A reusable polymer-supported hydrophosphinylation catalyst is described for the preparation of H-phosphinic acids. The polystyrene-based ligand is prepared in one step from commercially available compounds. The polymeric catalyst generally gives good yields for a variety of substrates and is water- and air-tolerant, although the scope of alkenes and alkynes which can be employed is somewhat narrower than with our original xantphos/Pd(2)dba(3) catalyst.