Green diastereoselective synthesis of highly functionalised trifluoromethylated γ-lactone phosphonate esters bearing a thioester or ketothiophene

A facile diastereoselective synthesis of highly functionalised 3-(1-diphenylphosphonylethyl)butyrolactone analogues, 3a–c is achieved from the reaction of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, 2a,b, with thiolated and trifluoromethylated-1,3-diones, CH acids, 1a,b, in the presence of triphenyl phosphite. The resulting products, 3a–c, are obtained in high yields and characterised by 1H/13C, 19F, 31P NMR and X-ray crystallography.