An efficient synthesis of α-hydroxy phosphonates and 2-nitroalkanols using Ba(OH)2 as catalyst

The α-hydroxy phosphonates have been synthesized using simple, inexpensive, and commonly available Ba(OH)2·8H2O at room temperature and quantitative yields were obtained in just 15 min for most of the reactions. On applying the same reaction condition to aqueous mediated Henry reaction, 2-nitroalkanols were obtained in good to excellent yield within 15 min.

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► Catalytic amount of Ba(OH)2·8H2O was used as an efficient catalyst.
► Synthesis of α-hydroxy phosphonates with excellent yields in 15 min at room temperature.
► The use of Ba(OH)2·8H2O avoids competing Cannizzaro and Tishchenko reactions.
► Synthesis of 2-nitroalkanols was achieved in water and high yields were obtained in 15 min at room temperature.