Direct synthesis of protected diethyl 1,2-diaminoalkylphosphonates

An efficient, diastereoselective synthesis of 5-substituted (2-thioxo-imidazolidin-4-yl)phosphonic acid diethyl esters from metallated diethyl isothiocyanatomethylphosphonate and activated imines has been developed. The three-step transformation of imidazolidine-2-thione derivatives into 1,2-diaminoalkylphosphonic acids is also described.