Convenient synthesis of α-diarylmethylphosphonates by HOTf catalyzed friedel-crafts arylation of α-aryl α-hydroxyphosphonates

We report a convenient catalytic Friedel-Crafts arylation of α-aryl α-hydroxyphosphonates with various (hetero)aromatic compounds. HOTf (trifluoromethanesulfonic acid) is identified to be the best Bronsted acid catalyst, and the desired α-diarylmethylphosphonates were obtained in up to 41–95% yield.