Stereospecific addition of H-P bond to alkenes: a simple method for the preparation of (R(P))-phenylphosphinates.

[reaction: see text] A variety of functionalized optically pure (R(P))-alkylphenylphosphinates are readily prepared by stereospecific radical or base-catalyzed additions of the easily available (R(P))-menthyl phenylphosphinate to alkenes.