Visible-light-induced ligand-free RuCl3 catalyzed C-H phosphorylation in water

Synthetic versatility: the C-P bond odyssey

C-P bond formation reactions have garnered significant attention due to the widespread presence of organophosphorus compounds in pharmaceuticals, phosphine-containing ligands, pesticides, and materials science. Consequently, various efficient methodologies have been established in recent decades for constructing C-P bonds. This review article traces the historical evolution of C-P bond research and explores the prospects of C-P bond formation. It contrasts biotechnological approaches with chemical synthesis, emphasizing the critical importance of precision and innovation in developing novel C-P structures. A forward-looking perspective is provided on the role of computational tools and machine learning in optimizing C-P bond synthesis and discovering new compounds. The article explores prospective avenues for reactions that form C-P bonds and advocates for enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration to propel scientific and technological advancements.

Silver(I)-catalyzed highly para-selective phosphonation of 2-aryloxazolines

A silver-catalyzed phosphonation of 2-aryloxazolines has been accomplished. This protocol provides highly regioselective access to para-phosphonation products with good functional group tolerance and moderate to good yields via cross-dehydrogenation coupling. Mechanistic studies have shown that para-phosphonation products are obtained via a radical pathway. Furthermore, the directing oxazoline group in the para-phosphonation products is removable and can be converted to benzoic esters.

Design of Photosensitive Cobalt Complex Intermediates and Their Application in the Green Syntheses of Molecules Containing the Quinazolin-4(3H)-imine Scaffold

Cobalt/photoredox cooperative catalysis is a well-explored technology for visible-light photoredox catalysis. Recently, the photosensitivity of Co(II) complexes in homogeneous catalysis has aroused the interest of scientists. In this study, photosensitive Co(II) complex intermediates were designed to develop new synthetic methods. These intermediates, consisting of Co(II) and two substrate molecules, bind to O₂ and absorb visible light over a wide spectral range, triggering in situ oxidative decarboxylation to produce molecules containing the quinazolin-4(3H)-imine scaffold. These reactions employed glyoxylic acid and ketoacids as new building blocks, and good to excellent yields of the corresponding products were obtained under mild reaction conditions using green and inexpensive reagents and solvents. These results are of importance since the design of Co-based photosensitive intermediates will aid in establishing novel methods for harnessing visible light and hence lead to innovation in organic syntheses.

Electrochemically driven regioselective C-H phosphorylation of group 8 metallocenes

Metallocenes are privileged backbones for synthesis and catalysis. However, the direct dehydrogenative C−H functionalization of unsymmetric metallocenes suffers from reactivity and selectivity issues. Herein, we report an electrochemically driven regioselective C−H phosphorylation of group 8 metallocenes. Mechanistic investigations indicate this dehydrogenative cross coupling occurs through an electrophilic radical substitution of the metallocene with a phosphoryl radical, facilitated by the metallocene itself. This work not only offers an efficient and divergent synthesis of phosphorylated metallocenes, but also provides a guide to interpret the reactivity and regioselectivity for the C−H functionalization of unsymmetric metallocenes.

Metallocene-based phosphines are compounds with potential use in catalysis. Here, the authors report the electrochemical regioselective functionalization of group 8 metallocenes with phosphine oxides; over 60 examples of phosphorylated (benzo)ferrocenes and ruthenocenes can be accessed via this method without the need for a preinstalled directing group.

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.