Ammonium metavanadate: an effective catalyst for synthesis of α- hydroxyphosphonates

Ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3) is an inexpensive, efficient and mild catalyst for the synthesis of α-hydroxyphosphonate derivatives by the reaction of various aryl or heteroaryl aldehydes with triethylphosphite at room temperature. This method affords the αhydroxyphosphonates in short reaction times, under solvent-free conditions, and in high yield.