β-Ketophosphonates are widely found in the structural backbone of natural products and biologically active molecules, and they are of great synthetic value in medicinal chemistry, organic transformations and other fields. An Mn(acac)₃-promoted oxidative coupling reaction between aryl enol acetates and alkyl phosphites are reported, enabling the synthesis of β-ketophosphonates with broad functional group compatibility under mild and simple conditions. The generation of phosphorus radicals for manganese oxidation and the addition of radicals to unsaturated bonds were involved in the reaction. The substrates required for the reaction were readily available and the system did not require any acid or base as additives. Finally, a gram-scale experiment to further demonstrate the value of this strategy in the efficient synthesis of β-ketophospho- nates was carried out.

Key words: β-ketophosphonates, radical addition, oxidative coupling