A practical and efficient green synthesis of β-aminophosphoryl compounds via the aza-Michael reaction in water

Biphasic systems room temperature imidazolium ionic liquid (RTIL)/water or water as a solvent significantly accelerate the addition of amines to vinylphosphoryl compounds hence opening green and effective synthesis of β-aminophosphoryl compounds in excellent yields over short reaction times. The application of water, being the cheapest and most non-toxic solvent, without any catalyst or co-solvent, is more advantageous as it provides a simple isolation procedure for products having high purity (> 95% according to the NMR data) via simple freeze-drying and does not require extraction with organic solvents. The solubility of the starting phosphorus substrate in water does not play crucial role in the reaction as it was demonstrated using water insoluble diphenylvinylphosphine oxide. In contrast to typical procedures, using a reactant ratio (vinylphosphoryl compound: amine) of 2:1 readily resulted in double phosphorylation of primary amines, including polyamines, in water.