The(COCl)2 /Hantzsch ester is found to be an effective system for the metal-free reduction of tertiary phosphine oxides. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions, and is applicable to triarylphosphine oxides and alkyldiarylphosphine oxides to produce the corresponding tertiary phosphines in good to excellent yields. This new finding provides a practical, convenient and metal-free method for the reduction of tertiary phosphine oxides to tertiary phosphines, and shows potential application in organic synthesis.
