A novel synthesis of bis-(α-hydroxyalkyl)phosphinic acids involving microwave irradiation

A simple, efficient, and general method has been developed for the synthesis of bis-(α-hydroxyalkyl)phosphinic acids from hypophosphorous acid using microwave irradiation. Bis-(α-hydroxyalkyl)phosphinic acids were obtained in high yield under mild conditions by reaction of hypophosphorous acid with aldehydes under microwave irradiation.