Novel approach to metal-induced oxidative phosphorylation of aromatic compounds

•A single-step electrocatalytic method for aromatic CH phosphonation is proposed.•The data of cyclic voltammetry and EPR for the system [MnIIbpy/NiIIbpy-(EtO)2P(O)H] are discussed.•The electrosynthesis proceeds under mild conditions (room temperature) at potentials of 1.0 V [Ni-Mn-(EtO)2P(O)H] complex oxidation.

We propose a new approach to the phosphorylation of benzenes bearing both electron withdrawing and electron donating substituents on the ring and some coumarins (coumarin, 6-methylcoumarin, 7-methylcoumarin) under the action of dialkyl H-phosphonate (RO)2P(O)H (R = Et, n-Bu, i-Pr), based on catalytic oxidation of arene and H-phosphonate (1:1) mixture in electrochemically mild conditions (room temperature, normal pressure) using the bimetallic catalyst system MnIIbpy/NiIIbpy (1%). This method produces a dialkyl aryl phosphate with high yield (up to 70%) and 100% conversion of H-phosphonate.

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