Route to α-Aryl Phosphonoacetates: Useful Synthetic Precursors in the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons Olefination

[Image: see text] A versatile and general catalytic strategy has been developed for the α-arylation of phosphonoacetates utilizing parallel microscale experimentation. These α-substituted phosphonoacetates are widely useful, notably as substrates in the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons-type olefinations. However, the current routes to these products involve harsh conditions, limiting the variety of functionality. The reported method can be used with a variety of aryl chlorides and aryl bromides, including several heterocyclic examples.