Synthesis of β-Hydroxyhydrophosphonic Acids from Inorganic Sodium Hypophosphite

Abstract An efficient approach to access β-hydroxyhydrophosphonic acid derivatives is reported by ring-opening reaction of readily available epoxides with green, inexpensive, and safe inorganic salt sodium hypophosphate as the phosphorus source in the presence of silver trifluoromethanesulfonate as the catalyst. The reaction is achieved under simple operation and exhibits excellent selectivity as well as good functional group compatibility.