On the rearrangement of N-aryl-N-Boc-phosphoramidates to N-Boc-protected o-aminoarylphosphonates

Various arylamines were converted in two steps to N-Boc-N-arylphosphoramidates. LiTMP and LDA induced directed ortho-metalation at temperatures from −78 to 0 °C. The ensuing [1,3]-migration of the phosphorus atom with its substituents from the nitrogen to the ortho-carbanionic carbon atom gave N-Boc-protected o-aminoarylphosphonates. The nature of the substituent of 3-substituted phenylphosphoramidates strongly influenced the regioselectivity of phosphonate formation. A crossover experiment with a deuterated phosphoramidate proved the intramolecular course of the rearrangement. Three representative N-Boc-o-aminoarylphosphonates were deprotected to access the corresponding o-aminoarylphosphonic acids.