Radical deoxygenation of hydroxyl groups via phosphites.

A highly efficient, two-step sequence method for the deoxygenation of hydroxyl groups has been developed. The method involves the preparation of the 2-(2-iodophenyl)ethyl methyl phosphite derivative of an alcohol using methyl dichlorophosphite and 2-(2-iodophenyl)ethanol. Treatment of the phosphite intermediate with (n-Bu)3SnH/AIBN in refluxing benzene cleanly produces the deoxygenation product of the original alcohol.