Lewis Acid Enables Ketone Phosphorylation to Form a C–P Bond and a C–C Bond: Synthesis of 9-Phosphoryl Fluorene Derivatives

An efficient method for the Lewis acid promotion of the synthesis 9-phosphoryl fluorenes has been reported. This method focuses on ketone phosphonylation to form a C-P bond and a C-C bond between diphenylmethanone and H-phosphinate esters, H-phosphites, and H-phosphine oxides via phospha-aldol elimination, in which a series of 9-phosphoryl fluorene derivatives were selectively obtained in moderate to excellent yields.