Photoinduced Coupling Reaction of Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine Oxide with Interelement Compounds: Application to the Synthesis of Thio- or Selenophosphinates

Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (TMDPO) is a radical initiator widely used in the field of macromolecular chemistry, but not often applied in synthetic organic chemistry. We have focused­ on the use of TMDPO as a phosphorus source in reactions with different E – E compounds, where E – E represents a heteroatom–heteroatom­ bond, under photoirradiation. Interestingly, the cross-coupling reaction between TMDPO and disulfides or diselenides successfully affords thio- or selenophosphinates and thio- or selenoesters, respectively. The synthesis of series of thio- and selenophosphinates by this photoinduced cross-coupling reaction is demonstrated.