One-pot tandem 1,4-1,2-addition of phosphites to quinolines.

Trialkyl and silylated dialkyl phosphites were evaluated as phosphorus nucleophiles for the addition to quinolines in a strong acidic medium allowing consecutive 1,4- and 1,2-addition breaking up the aromatic stabilisation, thereby leading to 2,4-diphosphono-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines in one single reaction step in moderate to good yields (2-84%).