Organophosphorus Chemistry 2021

Dear Colleagues,

These days, organophosphorus (OP) chemistry forms an indispensable part of synthetic organic chemistry. OP compounds may be used as starting materials, intermediates, reagents, catalysts (phase transfer catalysts, organocatalysts, and ligands in P(III)-transition metal complexes) and solvents (ionic liquids (ILs)) in research laboratories and in the industry. There are a lot of frequently applied reactions, such as reductions, the Wittig reaction and its variations, especially the catalytic versions, the Arbuzov reaction, the Pudovik reaction, the Mitsunobu reaction, the Kabachnik-Fields reaction, etc. that apply P-containing reagents. The simple deoxygenation of phosphine oxides is also a challenging field. Other reactions, e.g., homogeneous catalytic transformations or C–C coupling reactions, involve P-ligands in catalysts. There has been an enormous development in the field of chiral OP compounds. Methods have been elaborated for the resolution of tertiary phosphine oxides and for enantioselective OP transformations. The optically active P(III) species may be used as ligands in transition metal (Pt, Pd, etc.) complex catalysts making stereoselective transformations possible. The heterocyclic discipline may include P-heterocycles and classical O- and N-heterocycles with P-functions. A special field comprises P-containing or P-functionalized macrocycles and other macromolecules, such as dendrimers. An up-to-date approach is to perform syntheses in the OP discipline in an environmentally friendly manner. This may include the use of microwave or ultrasound. Solvent-free accomplishments are also interesting. The use of IL-s including P-containing species as solvents or as additives is an up-to-date option. Monitoring reactions to optimize conditions or to observe reactive species is a challenging field. Theoretical calculations within OP chemistry are also an important field; these days, the evaluation of stereostructures and mechanisms may provide additional value information. A very important segment of OP chemistry, a driving force for development in fact, is the pool of biologically active OP compounds (e.g., bisphosphonic derivatives and aminophosphonic species) that are searched and used as drugs, or plant-protecting agents. Natural (e.g., peptide and amino acid) analogue P-compounds should also be mentioned. Lots of new phosphine oxides, phosphinates, phosphonates, and phosphoric esters have been described that may obtain different kinds of applications.

This special issue of Molecules will welcome all submissions that fit the above outline.

Prof. Dr. György Keglevich
Guest Editor

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