Highly enantioselective hydrophosphonylation of imines catalyzed by SPINOL-phosphoric acid

Chiral SPINOL-phosphoric acid is a highly enantioselective organocatalyst for asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of cinnamaldehyde-derived aldimines with diethyl phosphite at room temperature, affording α-amino phosphonates in 85–98% yields and 80–98% ee.