Diphenyl Diselenide-Catalyzed Synthesis of Triaryl Phosphites and Triaryl Phosphates from White Phosphorus

Industrially important triaryl phosphites, traditionally prepared from PCl3, have been synthesized by a diphenyl diselenide-catalyzed one-step procedure involving white phosphorus and phenols, which provides a halogen- and transition metal-free way to these compounds. Subsequent oxidation of triaryl phosphites produces triaryl phosphates and triaryl thiophosphates. Phosphorotrithioates are also prepared efficiently from aromatic thiols and aliphatic thiols.