D-Glucosamine as a novel chiral auxiliary for the stereoselective synthesis of P-stereogenic phosphine oxides.

D-Glucosamine was successfully employed as a chiral auxiliary for the enantioselective synthesis of phosphine oxides. The influence of the anomeric position was also investigated and revealed the excellent ability of the α-anomer to perform this transformation in a highly selective fashion. The methodology employed consisted of three steps: diastereoselective formation of the oxazaphospholidine followed by subsequent selective cleavage of P-N and P-O bonds by reaction with two Grignard reagents. P-epimers oxazaphospholidines were prepared switching from a P(v) to a P(III) precursor, thus allowing for the synthesis of enantiomeric phosphine oxides. In addition, the chiral auxiliary could be recovered and efficiently recycled.