Sodium in liquid ammonia-a versatile tool in modifications of arylphosphine oxides

A simple and practical method for modifications of tertiary arylphosphine oxides based on their reaction with sodium in liquid ammonia is presented. Depending on the structure of the starting compounds, either dearomatisation of the phenyl substituent or cleavage of a P-aryl bond from phosphorus atom can be selectively performed and the corresponding (1,4-cyclohexadien-3-yl)phosphine oxides or secondary phosphine oxides were obtained in good to excellent yields.