One‐Pot Tandem 1,4–1,2‐Addition of Phosphites to α,β‐Unsaturated Imines for the Synthesis of Glutamic Acid Analogues

Evidently so: New mechanistic findings indicate that addition of dialkyl trimethylsilyl phosphites to α,β-unsaturated imines has been incorrectly reported as an exclusive 1,2-addition. When α,β-unsaturated imines are used as substrates, 1-alkylamino 3-phosphonyl phosphonates are formed in high yields in the presence of a suitable proton source through a sequential 1,4- and 1,2-addition.