Silver-Catalyzed One-Pot Three-Component Synthesis of α-Aminonitriles and Biologically Relevant α-Amino-phosphonates

A simple silver salt (AgSbF6)-catalyzed aminophosphonylation and Strecker reaction have been developed and successfully applied to a wide range of substrates (>55 substrates). This solvent-, ligand-, and base-free one-pot three-component protocol operates effectively at room temperature to provide diversified α-aminophosphonates and α-aminonitriles, which gave access to the respective α-amino amides. Importantly, the present catalyst system is also capable to produce the rarely reported and biologically relevant aminophosphonates (having anti-leishmanial activity). Further, mechanistic studies reveal that the present phosphonylation protocol follows a radical pathway.