Breakthrough in phosphonylation of alkyl radicals: Alternative access of alkyl phosphonates

Recently, the groups of Aggarwal and Li have independently presented photocatalytic radical phosphonylations of alkyl radicals with benzhydryl-catechol-phosphites under photoredox catalysis in Journal of the American Chemical Society and CCS Chemistry, respectively. These reactions provided an expedient way for the late-stage installation of phosphonate motifs into natural products and pharmaceutical agents.