The first metal-free, efficient TBAI-catalyzed radical addition/cyclization of diaryl(arylethynyl)phosphine oxides with toluene derivatives has been developed, affording a general, one-step approach to structurally sophisticated benzo[b]phosphole oxides via sequential C–H functionalization along with the formation of two new C–C bonds.
![Graphical abstract: TBAI-catalyzed oxidative C–H functionalization: a new route to benzo[b]phosphole oxides](http://hg.y866.cn/compound/lib/scimg/usr/1/C5CC09263A.jpg)