Borane complexes of the H3PO2 P(III) tautomer: useful phosphinate equivalents

The preparation and reactivity of novel (R1O)(R2O)P(BH3)H [R1, R2=Et, TIPS] synthons is investigated. The direct alkylation of these compounds with lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) and various electrophiles, provided new series of phosphonite-borane complexes, which can be converted into H-phosphinates and boranophosphonates.