A versatile synthesis of chiral β-aminophosphines.

A method for the preparation of chiral β-aminophosphines having substituted P-aryl groups is described. Ring-opening of cyclic sulfamidates with metal diarylphosphinites yields β-aminophosphine oxides, which are then reduced to the corresponding phosphines. Effects of the diarylphosphinite countercation on the regioselectivity of the ring-opening reaction (P- versus O-alkylation) are discussed.