Newer Developments in the Synthesis of P-Heterocycles

Organocatalytic Diastereoselective (4 + 1) Cycloaddition of o-Hydroxyphenyl-Substituted Secondary Phosphine Oxides

The first organocatalytic diastereoselective (4 + 1) cycloaddition of o-hydroxyphenyl-substituted secondary phosphine oxides (SPOs) has been established, which makes use of o-hydroxyphenyl substituted SPOs as suitable four-atom phosphorus-containing 1,4-dinucleophiles and 3-indolylformaldehydes as competent 1,1-dielectrophiles under Bro̷nsted acid catalysis. The reaction mechanism was suggested to involve the formation of 3-indolylmethanol intermediates and vinyliminium intermediates, which played an important role in controlling the reactivity and diastereoselectivity of the (4 + 1) cycloaddition under Bro̷nsted acid catalysis. By this approach, a series of benzo oxaphospholes bearing P- and C-stereocenters were synthesized in moderate to good yields (50%-95% yields) with excellent diastereoselectivities (all >95:5 dr). This reaction not only represents the first organocatalytic diastereoselective (4 + 1) cycloaddition of o-hydroxyphenyl-substituted SPOs but also provides an efficient and diastereoselective method for the construction of phosphorus-containing benzo five-membered heterocyclic skeletons bearing both P-stereocenter and C-stereocenter.

Preparation of 2-phospholene oxides by the isomerization of 3-phospholene oxides

A series of 1-substituted-3-methyl-2-phospholene oxides was prepared from the corresponding 3-phospholene oxides by double bond rearrangement. The 2-phospholene oxides could be obtained by heating the 3-phospholene oxides in methanesulfonic acid, or via the formation of cyclic chlorophosphonium salts. Whereas mixtures of the 2- and 3-phospholene oxides formed, when the isomerization of 3-phospholene oxides was attempted under thermal conditions, or in the presence of a base. The mechanisms of the various double bond migration pathways were elucidated by quantum chemical calculations.