Copper catalyzed one-pot synthesis of β-ketophosphine oxides from ketones and H-phosphine oxides

A facile and efficient copper catalyzed one-pot method has been developed for the formation of β-ketophosphine oxides from ketones and H-phosphine oxides under air at room temperature, in which vinylhydrazinedicarboxylate was formed as the key intermediate. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated that the reaction might involve a radical process and carbonyl oxygen atom of β-ketophosphine oxides came from molecular oxygen.