Direct functionalization of white phosphorus by organolithium reagents to organophosphorus compounds

Abstract

The direct synthesis of organophosphorus compounds from white phosphorus (P₄) has very important scientific significance and application value. The review focuses on the direct functionalization of white phosphorus by organolithium reagents to organophosphorus compounds, including three parts: (i) the development of P₄ functionalization by organo-mono-lithium reagents, and the recent breakthroughs for the synergistic activation strategy of Lewis acid and organo-mono-lithium reagents; (ii) the new discovery of organo-di-lithium reagents mediated P₄ activation, including the aggregation states of products, reaction mechanism and derivatization reactions; and (iii) modes of organolithium reagents mediated P₄ activation. This timely review will accelerate the development of P₄ functionalization for the construction of organophosphorus compounds.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• White phosphorus
• organolithium reagents
• organophosphorus compounds
• P − C bonds

Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Dr. Zhenfeng Xi of Peking University for useful discussions and comments on the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 22131001, 21725201, 21890721).