The Role of Phosphorus in Crop Protection: Commercial and Experimental Weed Control Agents

Chemodivergent phosphonylation of diazocarboxylates: light-on vs. light-off reactions

By tapping into the divergent reactivity of diazocarboxylates under thermal and photocatalytic conditions, we could develop chemodivergent phosphonylation protocols for α-diazocarboxylates with trialkyl phosphites. While the thermal reaction led to N-P bond formation affording phosphonylated hydrazones, the visible light-mediated reaction furnished phosphonylated aryl carboxylates through C-P bond formation. Both reactions are notable for their operational simplicity and mild conditions affording products in good yields without the requirement of a metal, base or photocatalyst.

Green and Effective Preparation of α-Hydroxyphosphonates by Ecocatalysis

A green and effective approach for the synthesis of structurally diversed α-hydroxyphosphonates via hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes under solventless conditions and promoted by biosourced catalysts, called ecocatalysts "Eco-MgZnOx" is presented. Ecocatalysts were prepared from Zn-hyperaccumulating plant species Arabidopsis halleri, with simple and benign thermal treatment of leaves rich in Zn, and without any further chemical treatment. The elemental composition and structure of Eco-MgZnOx were characterized by MP-AES, XRPD, HRTEM, and STEM-EDX techniques. These analyses revealed a natural richness in two unusual and valuable mixed zinc-magnesium and iron-magnesium oxides. The ecocatalysts were employed in this study to demonstrate their potential use in hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes, leading to various α-hydroxyphosphonate derivatives, which are critical building blocks in the modern chemical industry. Computational chemistry was performed to help discriminate the role of some of the constituents of the mixed oxide ecocatalysts. High conversions, broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and easy purification of the final products together with simplicity of the preparation of the ecocatalysts are the major advantages of the presented protocol. Additionally, Eco-MgZnOx-P could be recovered and reused for up to five times.

Asymmetric synthesis of organophosphorus compounds using H-P reagents derived from chiral alcohols

Chiral organophosphorus compounds, especially those containing C-stereogenic carbons in the proximity of the phosphorus atom, are known for their unique properties and have found wide applications that span from medicinal chemistry to enantioselective catalysis. However, the synthesis of such chiral molecules, especially with the precise control of stereochemistry at chiral carbon atoms, still remains a very challenging task. This review summarizes recent advances in the highly stereoselective formation of C- and, in some cases, also P-stereogenic organophosphorus compounds. The presented synthesis strategy is based on the use of H-P reagents bearing TADDOL, BINOL or a menthol moiety attached to the phosphorus atom and serving as a chiral auxiliary. Reactions of such chiral H-P species with different partners, e.g., alkenes, alkynes, imines, and carbonyl compounds, leading to structurally diverse chiral organophosphorus compounds with up to five chiral centers are comprehensively discussed. In each case, the stereochemical outcome of the reaction is influenced by the presence of the chiral alcohol used; therefore, the content of this review is compiled into sections with respect to the type of chiral alcohol attached to the phosphorus atom in the H-P species applied.