Phosphonohydrazines were prepared in good yield from corresponding arylamines by a one-pot reaction through diazotization with an organic nitrite and treatment with a trialkyl phosphite. The trialkyl phosphite is postulated to function as a nucleophile as well as a reducing agent.
Keywords: alkyl nitrite; arylamine; diazo compounds; phosphonohydrazine; reduction; trialkyl phosphite.