The hydrophosphorylation of aldehydes with a P-stereogenic H-phosphinate was realized by heating two compounds in a neat state or catalyzed by a base, to afford P-retention alpha-hydroxyl phosphinates. The (S-p,S-c) and other diastereomers were isolated, and their structures were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy and crystallography. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.