Visible-Light-Mediated Access to Phosphate Esters.

We report herein a practically simple visible-light photocatalytic approach for the synthesis of a large variety of phosphate esters through the combination of N-alkoxypyridinium salts and phosphites under mild conditions. The scope of the reaction is broad and the protocol was successfully applied to the synthesis of biologically relevant structures. Quantum yield measurements, as well as EPR experiments, allowed the suggestion of a reasonable reaction mechanism.