)-H phosphonylation of unactivated alkanes using a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) strategy with an iron photocatalyst. Key to the success of the process was the development of a novel mandelonitrile-derived phosphite radical trap, which is equipped with an oxidizing phenylacetonitrile radical leaving group that enables effective turnover of the photocatalyst. The method displays good functional group tolerance, high selectivity for phosphonylations of sterically unhindered C─H bonds, and was found to be applicable to regioselective late-stage installation of phosphonate esters into complex molecules.
Dong et al. (2026) studied this question.