A reation of an aromatic amine, an aryl aldehyde and a dialkylphosphite took place in one pot with aluminum perchlorate catalyst under solvent-free conditions to afford the corresponding α-amino- phosphonates in high yields. Aluminum perchlorate was found to be superior to other catalysts [Mg(ClO₄)₂, BiCl₃, AlCl₃ and so on]. The Al(ClO₄)₃-catalyzed α-aminophosphonate synthesis involving aromatic amines with an electron-withdrawing substituent in the present study perhaps is a better method.

Key words: aluminium perchlorate, one-pot method, synthesis, α-aminophosphonate