Phosphinate-containing heterocycles: A mini-review

Facile Synthesis of H-Phosphinates from P(OR)3 or ClP(OR)2 via SiO2-Promoted Hydrolysis

H-Phosphinates represent a valuable class of organophosphorus building blocks and catalytic ligands. The existing synthetic approaches are generally associated with the use of strong acids, the need for meticulous treatment of intermediates, and the limitation of only P-aryl introductions. Following a comprehensive investigation into the unexpected SiO2-promoted hydrolysis observed during the chromatography workup of the crude R'P(OR)2 intermediates, we have developed an extremely simple and general synthetic route to H-phosphinates from commercially available Grignard reagents and P(OR)3. An alternative approach involved the use of ClP(OR)2 in place of P(OR)3, which proved to be a valuable strategy for the preparation of sterically hindered ArMgBr substrates bearing bulky ortho-substituted motifs. A library of 36 structurally diverse P-(cyclo)alkyl and P-(hetero)aryl H-phosphinates was thus obtained in moderate to high yields using this practical protocol. Furthermore, the CuCl2-mediated P(O)-H bond derivations were also examined, resulting in the formation of the corresponding EtOPhP(O)-X (X = O, N, S) compounds in nearly quantitative yields.

Diastereoselective additions of H-phosphinates to alkenyl ketones under phase-transfer conditions

Additions of bulky H-phosphinates to β,β-disubstituted alkenyl ketones under the action of a phase transfer-catalyst led to a new class of carbon quaternary center-containing phosphinates with unprecedented control of the relative configuration of the adjacent carbon and phosphorous chiral centers with high diastereoselectivity in most cases.

Recent advances in photochemical construction of aromatic C–P bonds via C–hetero bond cleavage

Photochemical C–P bond cross-coupling in aromatics via C–X (X = F, Cl, Br, I), C–N bond and C–O bond cleavages with/without photosensitizer were summarized in this review.

Synthesis of P-Substituted 5- and 6-Membered Benzo-Phostams: 2,3-Dihydro-1H-1,2-benzazaphosphole 2-Oxides and 2,3-Tetrahydro-1H-1,2-benzazaphosphinine 2-Oxides

Several approaches were developed for the preparation of phosphorus-substituted 5- and 6-membered benzophostams. Carbodiimide-promoted cyclization of zwitterionic aminophosphinates derived from a nitrobenzene precursor accomplished the cyclization in good yields. Alternatively, a novel copper-catalyzed cross-coupling between a phosphonamide and a bromobenzene precursor produced the heterocycles in moderate to good yields. Three different methods are compared for the synthesis of the P-ethoxy-substituted 5-membered benzophostam.

The conversion of ether bonds to hydroxyl via a base-promoted rearrangement of cyclic phosphine oxides

Biphenyl derived secondary phosphine oxides having 2′-hydroxyl were prepared.

Phosphine Oxides from a Medicinal Chemist's Perspective: Physicochemical and in Vitro Parameters Relevant for Drug Discovery

Phosphine oxides and related phosphorus-containing functional groups such as phosphonates and phosphinates are established structural motifs that are still underrepresented in today's drug discovery projects, and only few examples can be found among approved drugs. In this account, the physicochemical and in vitro properties of phosphine oxides and related phosphorus-containing functional groups are reported and compared to more commonly used structural motifs in drug discovery. Furthermore, the impact on the physicochemical properties of a real drug scaffold is exemplified by a series of phosphorus-containing analogs of imatinib. We demonstrate that phosphine oxides are highly polar functional groups leading to high solubility and metabolic stability but occasionally at the cost of reduced permeability. We conclude that phosphine oxides and related phosphorus-containing functional groups are valuable polar structural elements and that they deserve to be considered as a routine part of every medicinal chemist's toolbox.

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.

Stereoselective Synthesis of α-Amino-C-phosphinic Acids and Derivatives

α-Amino-C-phosphinic acids and derivatives are an important group of compounds of synthetic and medicinal interest and particular attention has been dedicated to their stereoselective synthesis in recent years. Among these, phosphinic pseudopeptides have acquired pharmacological importance in influencing physiologic and pathologic processes, primarily acting as inhibitors for proteolytic enzymes where molecular stereochemistry has proven to be critical. This review summarizes the latest developments in the asymmetric synthesis of acyclic and phosphacyclic α-amino-C-phosphinic acids and derivatives, following in the first case an order according to the strategy used, whereas for cyclic compounds the nitrogen embedding in the heterocyclic core is considered. In addition selected examples of pharmacological implications of title compounds are also disclosed.