Copper-catalyzed tandem phosphination–decarboxylation–oxidation of alkynyl acids with H-phosphine oxides: a facile synthesis of β-ketophosphine oxides

The general method for the tandem phosphination-decarboxylation-oxidation of alkynyl acids under aerobic conditions has been developed. In the presence of CuSO4·5H2O and TBHP, the reactions provide a novel access to β-ketophosphine oxides in good to excellent yields. This transformation allows the direct formation of a P-C bond and the construction of a keto group in one reaction.