Abstract Several phosphinites and phosphites, derived from chiral alcohols, were synthesized. The phosphinites were subjected to a I 2-catalyzed Michaelis-Arbuzov rearrangement. Phosphinites derived from primary alcohols give satisfactory yields of the corresponding phosphineoxides. Phosphinites synthesized from secondary alcohols also undergo the rearrangement but numerous byproducts appear in the reaction mixtures. ...