Microwaves as “Co-Catalysts” or as Substitute for Catalysts in Organophosphorus Chemistry

The purpose of this review is to summarize the importance of microwave (MW) irradiation as a kind of catalyst in organophosphorus chemistry. Slow or reluctant reactions, such as the Diels-Alder cycloaddition or an inverse-Wittig type reaction, may be performed efficiently under MW irradiation. The direct esterification of phosphinic and phosphonic acids, which is practically impossible on conventional heating, may be realized under MW conditions. Ionic liquid additives may promote further esterifications. The opposite reaction, the hydrolysis of P-esters, has also relevance among the MW-assisted transformations. A typical case is when the catalysts are substituted by MWs, which is exemplified by the reduction of phosphine oxides, and by the Kabachnik–Fields condensation affording α-aminophosphonic derivatives. Finally, the Hirao P–C coupling reaction may serve as an example, when the catalyst may be simplified under MW conditions. All of the examples discussed fulfill the expectations of green chemistry.

Nonbenzenoid aromaticity of 1-phosphafulvenes: synthesis of phosphacymantrenes

The nonbenzenoid aromaticity of 1-phosphafulvenes were revealed by the coordination with manganese carbonyls. The results highlight the analogy between phosphorus and carbon in low-coordinate organophosphorus chemistry.

Alkylation of Phosphinite/Phosphonite-Boranes via Temporary Protection of the P–H Bond

A new alkylation protocol for the synthesis of tertiary phosphonite­/phosphinite-boranes is developed. P-Alkylation products are obtained exclusively in moderate to very good yields from easily accessible (1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)/(1-hydroxy-1-cyclohexyl) phosphonite/phosphinite-boranes upon reaction with a variety of electrophiles under mild conditions. The methodology opens up new synthetic routes for organophosphorus chemistry and offers access to valuable alkyl phosphonite/phosphinite-boranes. In contrast to previously reported oxidative removal–substitution sequences for the preparation of optically active phosphinite-boranes, our protocol provides a one-step procedure that occurs without loss of stereochemical information at phosphorus. This new approach provides a rather advantageous protocol when compared to direct alkylation methods (which may undergo P-epimerization) and occurs in a stereoselective manner even at 0 °C.