Direct access to enantiomerically enriched alpha-amino phosphonic acid derivatives by organocatalytic asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of imines.

A simple and efficient organocatalytic enantioselective hydrophosphonylation of imines to enantiomerically enriched alpha-amino phosphonates is reported. By using 10 mol % of quinine as the catalyst in the enantioselective addition of diethyl phosphite to N-Boc protected imines, alpha-amino phosphonates are obtained in moderate to good yields and with up to 94% ee.