Ferrocenephosphonates: Copper-Promoted Synthesis and Further Functionalization

Ferrocenephosphonates make up an important class of organometallic derivatives with a wide range of useful applications in organic synthesis and coordination chemistry. Here, an approach to ferrocenephosphonates based on a copper-promoted Hirao coupling is reported. Further functionalizations based on regioselective deprotolithiation and both Negishi and Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions are also described to reach original derivatives.

Phosphorylation of arenes, heteroarenes, alkenes, carbonyls and imines by dehydrogenative cross-coupling of P(O)-H and P(R)-H

Organophosphorous compounds have recently emerged as a powerful class of compounds with widespread applications, such as in bioactive natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and organic materials, and as ligands in catalysis. The preparation of these compounds requires synthetic techniques with novel catalytic systems varying from transition metal, photo- and electrochemical catalysis to transformations without metal catalysts. Over the past few decades, the addition of P-H bonds to alkenes, alkynes, arenes, heteroarenes and other unsaturated substrates in hydrophosphination and other related reactions via the above-mentioned catalytic processes has emerged as an atom economical approach to obtain organophosphorus compounds. In most of the catalytic cycles, the P-H bond is cleaved to yield a phosphorus-based radical, which adds onto the unsaturated substrate followed by reduction of the corresponding radical yielding the product.

Recent Developments in Organophosphorus Flame Retardants Containing P-C Bond and Their Applications

Organophosphorus compounds containing P-C bonds are increasingly developed as flame retardant additives due to their excellent thermal and hydrolytic stability and ease of synthesis. The latest development (since 2010) in organophosphorus flame retardants containing P-C bonds summarized in this review. In this review, we have broadly classified such phosphorus compounds based on the carbon unit linked to the phosphorus atom i.e., could be a part of either an aliphatic or an aromatic unit. We have only considered those published literature where a P-C bond was created as a part of synthetic strategy to make either an intermediate or a final organophosphorus compound with an aim to use it as a flame retardant. General synthetic strategies to create P-C bonds are briefly discussed. Most popular synthetic strategies used for developing P-C containing phosphorus based flame retardants include Michael addition, Michaelis-Arbuzov, Friedels-Crafts and Grignard reactions. In general, most flame retardant derivatives discussed in this review have been prepared via a one- to two-step synthetic strategy with relatively high yields greater than 80%. Specific examples of P-C containing flame retardants synthesized via suitable synthetic strategy and their applications on various polymer systems are described in detail. Aliphatic phosphorus compounds being liquids or low melting solids are generally applied in polymers via coatings (cellulose) or are incorporated in the bulk of the polymers (epoxy, polyurethanes) during their polymerization as reactive or non-reactive additives. Substituents on the P atoms and the chemistry of the polymer matrix greatly influence the flame retardant behavior of these compounds (condensed phase vs. the gas phase). Recently, aromatic DOPO based phosphinate flame retardants have been developed with relatively higher thermal stabilities (>250 °C). Such compounds have potential as flame retardants for high temperature processable polymers such as polyesters and polyamides. A vast variety of P-C bond containing efficient flame retardants are being developed; however, further work in terms of their economical synthetic methods, detailed impact on mechanical properties and processability, long term durability and their toxicity and environmental impact is much needed for their potential commercial exploitations.