C-fluorinated phosphate analogues

Abstract C-fluorinated phosphinic acid derivatives RP(O)(OEt)CF2Br (R=Ph, Me) 2a, b and [RP(O)(OR1)]2CF2 (R =Ph, R1= Et, H) 3, 4 have been prepared via a Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction. The signs of the scalar coupling constants in the AMX spin system of (EtO)2P(O)CHFCOOEt (5) formed by the P, F and H of the P-C(H)F unit were determined using spin-tickling techniques.