Visible-Light-Promoted Unsymmetrical Phosphine Synthesis from Benzylamines

Herein, by applying visible-light photoredox catalysis, we have achieved the catalytic deaminative alkylation of diphenylphosphine and phenyl phosphine with benzylamine-derived Katritzky salts at room temperature. The use of Eosin Y as photoredox catalyst and visible light can largely promote the reaction. A series of unsymmetrical tertiary phosphines were successfully synthesized, including phosphines with three different substituents that are otherwise difficult to obtain.