Stereospecific deoxygenation of phosphine oxides with retention of configuration using triphenylphosphine or triethyl phosphite as an oxygen acceptor.

[reaction: see text] A new protocol for deoxygenation of various phosphine oxides with retention of configuration is described. The advantage of the new method includes milder conditions and considerably shortened reaction times. Mechanistic studies about the oxygen transfer between the starting phosphine oxide and the sacrificial triphenylphosphine are also presented.