Rh(I)‐Catalyzed Arylation of α‐Diazo Phosphonates with Aryl Boronic Acids: Synthesis of Diarylmethylphosphonates

An efficient synthetic method for diarylmethylphosphonates is presented. A series of phosphonate derivatives with diverse functional groups can be accessed via a rhodium catalyzed cross ‐ coupling reaction between α ‐diazo phosphonates and aryl boronic acids. Migratory insertion of rhodium carbene intermediates is postulated to be the critical step in this transformation.