Nucleophilic substitution at phosphorus: stereochemistry and mechanisms

This review is devoted to the stereochemistry of nucleophilic substitution reactions at phosphorus. The study of the reactions of phosphoryl group transfer is important for biological and molecular chemistry. The stereochemistry and mechanisms of S_N1(P) monomolecular and S_N2(P) bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reactions of organophosphorus compounds are discussed. It has been shown that hydrolysis of many natural phosphates proceeds according to the monomolecular S_N1(P) mechanism via the formation of metaphosphate intermediate (PO₃^?). S_N2(P) nucleophilic substitution at chiral trivalent or pentavalent phosphorus compounds proceeds via the formation of penta-coordinated transition state or pentacoordinate intermediate.     

Asymmetric catalysis as a method for the synthesis of chiral organophosphorus compounds

This review discusses methods for the metallo-, organo- and biocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of chiral organophosphorus compounds with many applications in stereoselective synthesis with references to updated literature reports as well as the author’s original research. Asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation and reduction with chiral organometallic complexes, together with actively used asymmetric organocatalytic versions of various reactions enable us to synthesize chiral organophosphonates and phosphinates with high enantioselectivity and purity. Asymmetric catalysis is also an effective tool to realize some classic reactions of phosphorus chemistry in a stereospecific manner.