Triethylborane-initiated room temperature radical addition of hypophosphites to olefins: synthesis of monosubstituted phosphinic acids and esters

Sodium Hypophosphite as a Halogen Atom Transfer (XAT) Agent under Photocatalytic Conditions

The ability of sodium hypophosphite to generate the phosphorus-centered radical, which can activate the carbon-halogen bond via the halogen atom transfer (XAT) is described. The hydroalkylation of nonactivated alkenes with methyl bromoacetate was performed using sodium hypophosphite as reducing agent under photocatalytic conditions. The key phosphorus centered radical is formed from the hypophosphite anion by hydrogen atom abstraction.

A novel chitosan/cellulose phosphonate composite hydrogel for ultrafast and efficient removal of Pb(II) and Cu(II) from wastewater

Developing green and high-performance adsorbents to separate heavy metals from wastewater is a challenging task. Biomass hydrogel has the advantages of low cost, renewability, and biodegradability, but it has the problem of low adsorption efficiency. Herein, a novel chitosan/cellulose phosphonate composite hydrogel(CS/MCCP) is fabricated by two steps of reactions including the Phosphorylation reaction and the Mannich reaction. As an excellent chelating group, the phosphonate group greatly enhances the adsorption efficiency of the biomass hydrogel. The CS/MCCP shows ultrafast adsorption rate and excellent adsorption capacity for Pb(II) and Cu(II). The saturated adsorption capacity of Pb(II) and Cu(II) is 211.42 and 74.29 mg·g-1, respectively. The adsorption equilibration time is only 10 min. The adsorption performance of the CS/MCCP is superior to that of the reported cellulose/chitosan hydrogels. Besides, an in-depth analysis of the adsorption mechanism is conducted using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) combined with Density Functional Theory(DFT) calculation. The results reveal that the adsorption mechanism is electrostatic attraction and surface complexation, and there is a synergistic coordination between the phosphonate groups and the amino groups.

Cellulose phosphonate/polyethyleneimine nano-porous composite remove toxic Pb(II) and Cu(II) from water in a short time

Current cellulose-based adsorbents suffer from the drawbacks of low adsorption capacity or slow adsorption rate for heavy metal ions. It is imperative to prepare new cellulose-based materials to improve the adsorption ability. In this work, we aim to introduce phosphonate groups to improve the adsorption ability of cellulose and select polyethyleneimine (PEI) for synergistic adsorption. A novel cellulose phosphonate/polyethyleneimine composite (MCCP-PEI) is prepared via the Mannich reaction. The structure and composition of MCCP-PEI are characterized by various advanced microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, and the results show that MCCP-PEI possesses abundant nano-porous structure, strong chelating sites, and excellent hydrophilicity. Besides, the adsorption behavior of MCCP-PEI for heavy metals has been systematically investigated. The results show that the adsorbent can quickly remove toxic Cu(II) and Pb(II) from water within 15 min and 20 min, respectively. The saturated adsorption capacity for Cu(II) and Pb(II) is 250.0 and 534.7 mg·g-1, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis combined with Density Functional Theory calculations reveal that the adsorption mechanism is chemical complexation and electrostatic attraction, and the phosphonate group plays a key role in the adsorption process.

Synthesis of Aminobisphosphinates through a Cascade Reaction between Hypophosphorous Acid and Bis(trimethylsilyl)imidates Mediated by ZnI2

Among phosphorylated derivatives, phosphinates occupy a prominent place due to their ability to be bioisosteres of phosphates and carboxylates. These properties imply the necessity to develop efficient methodologies leading to phosphinate scaffolds. In recent years, our team has explored the nucleophilic potential of silylated phosphonite towards various electrophiles. In this paper, we propose to extend our study to other electrophiles. We describe here the implementation of a cascade reaction between (trimethylsilyl)imidates and hypophosphorous acid mediated by a Lewis acid allowing the synthesis of aminomethylenebisphosphinate derivatives. The present study focuses on methodological development including a careful NMR monitoring of the cascade reaction. The optimized conditions were successfully applied to various aliphatic and aromatic substituted (trimethylsilyl)imidates, leading to the corresponding AMBPi in moderate to good yields.

Nickel-Catalyzed Sodium Hypophosphite-Participated Direct Hydrophosphonylation of Alkyne toward H-Phosphinates

The traditional methods for the synthesis of phosphinate esters use phosphorus trichloride (PCl₃) as the phosphorous source, resulting in procedures that are often highly polluting and energy intensive. The search for an alternative approach that is both mild and environmentally friendly is a challenging, yet highly rewarding task in modern chemistry. Herein, we use an inorganic phosphorous-containing species, NaH₂PO₂, to serve as the source of phosphorous that participates directly in the nickel-catalyzed selective alkyne hydrophosphonylation reaction. The transformation was achieved in a multicomponent fashion and at room temperature, and most importantly, the H-phosphinate product generated is an advanced intermediate which can be readily converted into diverse phosphinate derivatives, including those bearing new P-C, P-S, P-N, P-Se, and P-O bonds, thus providing a complimentary method to classic phosphinate ester synthesis techniques.

Monoalkyl Phosphinic Acids as Ligands in Nanocrystal Synthesis

Ligands play a crucial role in the synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals. Nevertheless, only a handful molecules are currently used, oleic acid being the most typical example. Here, we show that monoalkyl phosphinic acids are another interesting ligand class, forming metal complexes with a reactivity that is intermediate between the traditional carboxylates and phosphonates. We first present the synthesis of n-hexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-tetradecyl, n-octadecyl, and oleylphosphinic acid. These compounds are suitable ligands for high-temperature nanocrystal synthesis (240-300 °C) since, in contrast to phosphonic acids, they do not form anhydride oligomers. Consequently, CdSe quantum dots synthesized with octadecylphosphinic acid are conveniently purified, and their UV-vis spectrum is free from background scattering. The CdSe nanocrystals have a low polydispersity and a photoluminescence quantum yield up to 18% (without shell). Furthermore, we could synthesize CdSe and CdS nanorods using phosphinic acid ligands with high shape purity. We conclude that the reactivity toward TOP-S and TOP-Se precursors decreases in the following series: cadmium carboxylate > cadmium phosphinate > cadmium phosphonate. By introducing a third and intermediate class of surfactants, we enhance the versatility of surfactant-assisted syntheses.

Natural Product-Derived Phosphonic Acids as Corrosion Inhibitors for Iron and Steel

Organic acids, typically derived from an oil-based value chain, are frequently used as corrosion inhibitors in industrial metal working fluids. The criteria for selection of these corrosion inhibitors have changed in the last decades, and are today not only performance-driven, but influenced by ecological considerations, toxicity and regulatory standards. We present scalable semisynthetic approaches to organic corrosion inhibitors based on phosphonic acids from renewable resources. They have been evaluated by chip filter assay, potentiodynamic polarization measurements, electrochemical impedance measurements and gravimetry for corrosion protection of iron and steel in an aqueous environment at slightly alkaline pH. The efficacy of several phosphonic acids tested was found to be strongly dependent on structural features influencing molecular self-assembly of protective layers, and the solubility of salts formed with di- and trivalent cations from the media or formed during corrosion. A carboxyphosphonic acid (derived from castor oil) was found to have remarkable anticorrosive effects in all media tested. We attribute the anticorrosion properties of this carboxyphosphonic acid to the formation of particularly stable protective layers on the metal surface. It might thus serve as a commercially attractive substitute for current acidic corrosion inhibitors, derived from renewable resources.

Hypophosphite addition to alkenes under solvent-free and non-acidic aqueous conditions

Hypophosphite adds to alkenes in high yields under solvent-free conditions at elevated temperature, including α,β-unsaturated carboxylates. The reaction proceeds by a radical mediated pathway. Hypophosphite addition is also effective under non-acidic aqueous conditions employing radical initiators. These methods complement other hypophosphite addition reactions and simplify the synthesis of polyfunctional H-phosphinates.

One-Pot Synthesis of Phosphinylphosphonate Derivatives and Their Anti-Tumor Evaluations

This paper reports on the synthesis of new hydroxymethylene-(phosphinyl)phosphonates (HMPPs). A methodology has been developed to propose an optimized one-pot procedure without any intermediate purifications. Various aliphatic and (hetero)aromatic HMPPs were synthesized in good to excellent yields (53–98%) and the influence of electron withdrawing/donating group substitution on aromatic substrates was studied. In addition, the one-pot synthesis of HMPP was monitored by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, allowing effective control of the end of the reaction and identification of all phosphorylated intermediate species, which enabled us to propose a reaction mechanism. Optimized experimental conditions were applied to the preparation of biological relevant aminoalkyl-HMPPs. A preliminary study of the complexation to hydroxyapatite (bone matrix) was carried out in order to verify its lower affinity towards bone compared to bisphosphonate molecules. Moreover, in vitro anti-tumor activity study revealed encouraging antiproliferative activities on three human cancer cell lines (breast, pancreas and lung).

Primary Phosphines and Phosphine Oxides with a Stereogenic Carbon Center Adjacent to the Phosphorus Atom: Synthesis and Anti-Markovnikov Radical Addition to Alkenes

Organophosphorus compounds with stereogenic phosphorus and carbon atoms have received increasing attention. In this regards, primary phosphines with a stereogenic carbon atom adjacent to the phosphorus atom were synthesized by the reduction in phosphonates and phosphonoselenoates with a binaphthyl group. Their oxidized products, i.e., phosphine oxides with a stereogenic tetrasubstituted carbon atom, were found to undergo BEt3-mediated radical addition to cyclohexene to give P-stereogenic secondary phosphine oxides with a diastereoselectivity of 91:9. The products were characterized by ordinary analytical methods, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR spectroscopies; and mass spectroscopy. Computational studies on the phosphorus-centered radical species and the obtained product implied that the thermodynamically stable radical and the adduct may be formed as a major diastereomer. The radical addition to a range of alkenes took place in an anti-Markovnikov fashion to give P-stereogenic secondary phosphine oxides. A variety of functional groups in the alkenes were tolerated under the reaction conditions to afford secondary phosphine oxides in moderate yields. Primary phosphines with an alkenyl group, which were generated in situ, underwent intramolecular cyclization to give five- and six-membered cyclic phosphines in high yields after protection by BH3.

Chemoselective synthesis of long-chain alkyl-H-phosphinic acids via one-pot alkylation/oxidation of red phosphorus with alkyl-PEGs as recyclable micellar catalysts

Long-chain n-alkyl-H-phosphinic acids (Alk = C₄-C₁₈) are chemoselectively synthesized in yields up to 90% via the direct one-pot alkylation/oxidation of red phosphorus (P_n) in the multi-phase alkyl bromide/KOH/H₂O/toluene system with alkyl-PEG recyclable micellar catalysts, which demonstrate good recyclability.

Boron Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Hydrophosphinylation of N-Heteroaryl-Substituted Alkenes with Secondary Phosphine Oxides

We report the boron-catalyzed hydrophosphinylation of N-heteroaryl-substituted alkenes with secondary phosphine oxides that furnishes various phosphorus-containing N-heterocycles. This process proceeds under mild conditions and enables the introduction of a phosphorus atom into multisubstituted alkenylazaarenes. The available mechanistic data can be explained by a reaction pathway wherein the C-P bond is created by the reaction between the activated alkene (by coordination to a boron catalyst) and the phosphorus(III) nucleophile (in tautomeric equilibrium with phosphine oxide).

Formation of 1-Hydroxymethylene-1,1-bisphosphinates through the Addition of a Silylated Phosphonite on Various Trivalent Derivatives

An easily handled one-pot synthetic procedure was previously developed for the synthesis of bisphosphinates starting from acyl chlorides. Herein, other trivalent derivatives as acid anhydrides and activated esters were tested to form various bisphosphinates. This modulation of the reactivity can be controlled according to the nature of the acid derivative for the use of sensitive and functionalized substrates.

Let's Make White Phosphorus Obsolete

Industrial and laboratory methods for incorporating phosphorus atoms into molecules within the framework of Green Chemistry are in their infancy. Current practice requires large inputs of energy, involves toxic intermediates, and generates substantial waste. Furthermore, a negligible fraction of phosphorus-containing waste is recycled which in turn contributes to negative environmental impacts, such as eutrophication. Methods that begin to address some of these drawbacks are reviewed, and some key opportunities to be realized by pursuing organophosphorus chemistry under the principles of Green Chemistry are highlighted. Methods used by nature, or in the chemistry of other elements such as silicon, are discussed as model processes for the future of phosphorus in chemical synthesis.

Potential chemical transformation of phosphinic acid derivatives and their applications in the synthesis of drugs

The chemical transformation of phosphinic acid is a well-considered mature area of research on account of the historical significant reactions such as Kabachnik-Fields, Mannich, Arbuzov, Michaelis-Becker, etc. Considerable advances have been made over last years especially in metal-catalyzed, free-radical processes and asymmetric synthesis using catalytic enantioselective. As a result, the aim of this synopsis is to make the reader familiar with advances in the approaches of phosphinic acids toward the synthesis of highly functionalized and valuable buildings blocks. Another purpose of this survey is to provide the current status of the applications of phosphinic acids in the synthesis of drugs.

A convenient synthetic route towards H-bisphosphinates

A practical generalisable procedure to synthesize hydroxymethylene H-bisphosphinates has been optimised. Unlike previous reports, numerous alkyl (including an alendronate bisphosphinate analogue) or (hetero)aryl compounds were rapidly obtained in satisfactory to excellent yields. A side product could have been identified as a phosphino-phosphonate isomer and plausible mechanistic pathways are proposed here. Moreover to check the literature data, a pKa value study was also performed.

Multi-component heteroarene couplings via polarity-reversed radical cascades

A multi-component radical addition strategy enables difunctionalization of alkenes with heteroarenes and a variety of radical precursors, including N3, P(O)R2, and CF3. This unified approach for coupling diverse classes of electrophilic radicals and heteroarenes to vinyl ethers allows for direct, vicinal C-C as well as C-N, C-P, and C-Rf bond formation.

On the cost of academic methodologies

Synthetic methodologies can be easily compared using the Cost of Academic Methodologies (CAM) parameter, which estimates the cost of making a mole of a product.

UV-mediated hydrophosphinylation of unactivated alkenes with phosphinates under batch and flow conditions

A UV-mediated hydrophosphinylation of unactivated alkenes with H-phosphinates and hypophosphorous acid under radical free conditions is presented. The reaction affords selectively a large number of structurally diverse organophosphorous compounds in moderate to good yields under mild reaction conditions in the presence of an organic sensitizer as catalyst irradiated by UV-A LEDs. Furthermore, the high yielding hydrophosphinylation in continuous flow is disclosed.

Eosin Y-catalyzed, visible-light-promoted carbophosphinylation of allylic alcohols via a radical neophyl rearrangement

An eosin Y-catalyzed, visible-light-promoted phosphinylation-induced 1,2-rearrangement reaction of allylic alcohols to prepare various β-aryl-γ-ketophosphine oxides is presented.

Radical C–H functionalization to construct heterocyclic compounds

Radical C–H functionalization is a promising and dramatic approach to synthesize heterocyclic compounds with high efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Aerobic addition of secondary phosphine oxides to vinyl sulfides: a shortcut to 1-hydroxy-2-(organosulfanyl)ethyl(diorganyl)phosphine oxides

Secondary phosphine oxides react with vinyl sulfides (both alkyl- and aryl-substituted sulfides) under aerobic and solvent-free conditions (80 °C, air, 7–30 h) to afford 1-hydroxy-2-(organosulfanyl)ethyl(diorganyl)phosphine oxides in 70–93% yields.

Recent advances in H-phosphonate chemistry. Part 1. H-phosphonate esters: synthesis and basic reactions

This review covers recent progress in the preparation of H-phosphonate mono- and diesters, basic studies on mechanistic and stereochemical aspects of this class of phosphorus compounds, and their fundamental chemistry in terms of transformation of P-H bonds into P-heteroatom bonds. Selected recent applications of H-phosphonate derivatives in basic organic phosphorus chemistry and in the synthesis of biologically important phosphorus compounds are also discussed.

Copper-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization for the synthesis of phosphorated indolines

A novel and convenient approach to the synthesis of various phosphorated indolines via a copper-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization reaction has been developed.

A silver-initiated free-radical intermolecular hydrophosphinylation of unactivated alkenes

A scalable, operationally easy intermolecular hydrophosphinylation of various unactivated alkenes with H–P(O) compoundsviaan Ag(i)-initiated free radical process was developed. Mechanistic studies suggest that atom transfer processes were involved in this system.

Synthetic applications of hypophosphite derivatives in reduction

The purpose of this review is to collect the applications in fine synthesis of hypophosphite derivatives as reducing agents.

Phosphinate chemistry in the 21st century: a viable alternative to the use of phosphorus trichloride in organophosphorus synthesis

Organophosphorus compounds are important in everyday applications ranging from agriculture to medicine and are used in flame retardants and other materials. Although organophosphorus chemistry is known as a mature and specialized area, researchers would like to develop new methods for synthesizing organophosphorus compounds to improve the safety and sustainability of these chemical processes. The vast majority of compounds that contain a phosphorus-carbon bond are manufactured using phosphorus trichloride (PCl3) as an intermediate. However, these reactions require chlorine, and researchers would like to avoid the use of PCl3 and develop safer chemistry that also decreases energy consumption and minimizes waste. Researchers have already proposed and discussed two primary strategies based on elemental phosphorus (P4 or Pred) or on phosphine (PH3) as alternatives to PCl3. However, phosphinates, an important class of phosphorus compounds defined as any compound with a phosphorus atom attached to two oxygens, R(1)R(2)P(O)(OR) (R(1)/R(2) = hydrogen/carbon), offer another option. This Account discusses the previously neglected potential of these phosphinates as replacements of PCl3 for the preparation of organophosphorus compounds. Because of their strong reductive properties, industry currently uses the simplest members of this class of compounds, hypophosphites, for one major application: electroless plating. In comparison with other proposed PCl3 surrogates, hypophosphorous derivatives can offer improved stability, lower toxicity, higher solubility, and increased atom economy. When their reducing power is harnessed to form phosphorus-carbon or phosphorus-oxygen bonds, these compounds are also rich and versatile precursors to organophosphorus compounds. This Account examines the use of transition metal-catalyzed reactions such as cross-coupling and hydrophosphinylation for phosphorus-carbon bond formation. Because the most important industrial organophosphorus compounds include compounds triply or quadruply bound to oxygen, I also discuss controlled transfer hydrogenation for phosphorus-oxygen bond formation. I hope that this Account will further promote research in this novel and exciting yet much underdeveloped area of phosphinate activation.

Glutathione-analogous peptidyl phosphorus esters as mechanism-based inhibitors of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase for probing cysteinyl-glycine binding site

γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) catalyzing the cleavage of γ-glutamyl bond of glutathione and its S-conjugates is involved in a number of physiological and pathological processes through glutathione homeostasis. Defining its Cys-Gly binding site is extremely important not only in defining the physiological function of GGT, but also in designing specific and effective inhibitors for pharmaceutical purposes. Here we report the synthesis and evaluation of a series of glutathione-analogous peptidyl phosphorus esters as mechanism-based inhibitors of human and Escherichia coli GGTs to probe the structural and stereochemical preferences in the Cys-Gly binding site. Both enzymes were inhibited strongly and irreversibly by the peptidyl phosphorus esters with a good leaving group (phenoxide). Human GGT was highly selective for l-aliphatic amino acid such as l-2-aminobutyrate (l-Cys mimic) at the Cys binding site, whereas E. coli GGT significantly preferred l-Phe mimic at this site. The C-terminal Gly and a l-amino acid analogue at the Cys binding site were necessary for inhibition, suggesting that human GGT was highly selective for glutathione (γ-Glu-l-Cys-Gly), whereas E. coli GGT are not selective for glutathione, but still retained the dipeptide (l-AA-Gly) binding site. The diastereoisomers with respect to the chiral phosphorus were separated. Both GGTs were inactivated by only one of the stereoisomers with the same stereochemistry at phosphorus. The strict recognition of phosphorus stereochemistry gave insights into the stereochemical course of the catalyzed reaction. Ion-spray mass analysis of the inhibited E. coli GGT confirmed the formation of a 1:1 covalent adduct with the catalytic subunit (small subunit) with concomitant loss of phenoxide, leaving the peptidyl moiety that presumably occupies the Cys-Gly binding site. The peptidyl phosphonate inhibitors are highly useful as a ligand for X-ray structural analysis of GGT for defining hitherto unidentified Cys-Gly binding site to design specific inhibitors.