Phosphinates are usually synthesized by the reaction of phosphinic chlorides with alcohols (Scheme 1A). 1 This method works well, but it utilizes rather expensive chlorides and cannot be regarded as being environmentally friendly due to the formation of hydrochloric acid. It is well-known that phosphinic acids do not undergo direct esterification with alcohols on conventional heating (Scheme 1B). However, under microwave irradiation, direct esterification of ...