Chemistry of phosphorylated formaldehyde derivatives. Part I

Glyphosate-Induced Phosphonatase Operons in Soil Bacteria of the Genus Achromobacter

Achromobacter insolitus and Achromobacter aegrifaciens, bacterial degraders of the herbicide glyphosate, were found to induce phosphonatase (phosphonoacetaldehyde hydrolase, EC 3.11.1.1) when grown on minimal media with glyphosate as the sole source of phosphorus. The phosphonatases of the strains were purified to an electrophoretically homogeneous state and characterized. The enzymes differed in their kinetic characteristics and some other parameters from the previously described phosphonatases. The phosphonatase of A. insolitus was first revealed to separate into two stable forms, which had similar kinetic characteristics but interacted differently with affinity and ion-exchange resins. The genomes of the investigated bacteria were sequenced. The phosphonatase genes were identified, and their context was determined: the bacteria were shown to have gene clusters, which, besides the phosphonatase operon, included genes for LysR-type transcription activator (substrate sensor) and putative iron-containing oxygenase PhnHD homologous to monooxygenases PhnY and TmpB of marine organophosphonate degraders. Genes of 2-aminoethylphosphonate aminotransferase (PhnW, EC 2.6.1.37) were absent in the achromobacterial phosphonatase operons; instead, we revealed the presence of genes encoding the putative flavin oxidase HpnW. In silico simulation showed 1-hydroxy-2-aminoethylphosphonate to be the most likely substrate of the new monooxygenase, and a number of glycine derivatives structurally similar to glyphosate to be substrates of flavin oxidase.

A Primary Acyl Phosphine Stabilized by a Phosphonium Ylide

Primary acyl-phosphines are scarce in the literature. Here we show that the reaction of Ph₃ GePCO with the ylide Ph₃ PCH₂ proceeds to give the species Ph₃ PCHC(O)PH(GePh₃ ) 1. Deprotonation of 1 with Na[N(SiMe₃ )₂ ] generates the salt [Na(THF)₂ ][Ph₃ PCHC(O)P(GePh₃ )] 2 which provides subsequent access to the bis-germanylated acylphosphine, Ph₃ PCHC(O)P(GePh₃ )₂ 3. Alternatively, treatment of 1 with HCl in dioxane affords the primary acylphosphine Ph₃ PCHC(O)PH₂ 4. Compound 4 is a rare example of an air stable primary acyl-phosphines and the first devoid of a stabilizing heteroatom adjacent to the carbonyl fragment.

Diphospha-Ureas from the Phosphaketene Ph3 GePCO

The phosphaketene Ph₃ GePCO is shown to react with the phosphide KP(tBu)₂ to generate the anion [Ph₃ GePC(O)P(tBu)₂ ]^- 1. This species reacts with CH₃ I or ClGePh₃ to give the dissymmetric diphospha-ureas (tBu)₂ PC(O)P(GePh₃ )(CH₃ ) 2 and (Ph₃ Ge)₂ PC(O)P(tBu)₂ 3 respectively. Sequential treatment of 2 with a base and CH₃ I affords a route to (tBu)₂ PC(O)P(CH₃ )₂ 5. These species are products of the first modular diphospha-urea synthesis. The subsequent thermal and photochemical reactivity of these species was also probed and described.

P, P-Dimethylformylphosphine: The Phosphorus Analogue of N, N-Dimethylformamide

The neutral PCO derivative Ph₃GePCO undergoes addition of borohydride to generate the anion [Ph₃GePC(H)OBPh₃]^-. A subsequent deprotection strategy provides access to the monomethyl and dimethylformyl phosphines, Ph₃GeP(Me)C(H)O and Me₂PC(H)O, respectively. The latter species which is the phosphorus analogue of DMF, was characterized and shown to complex via phosphorus to Ru. A computational study also highlights the similarities and differences between the P- and N-containing molecules.

Iron-catalyzed cross coupling of P-H/C-O bonds: efficient synthesis of α-alkoxyphosphorus compounds

An efficient P-C bond-formation through iron-catalyzed cross coupling of P-H/C-O bonds is developed for the first time. This reaction proceeds efficiently to produce the corresponding valuable α-alkoxyphosphorus compounds under mild conditions with a wide generality.