Synthesis and Application of Organophosphorus Compounds

Organophosphorus compounds have been widely used in medicinal and agricultural chemistry. Statistically, there are over 80 phosphorus-containing drugs in the clinic and over 300 phosphorus-containing pesticides on the market. It is worth noting that more and more candidates are on the way with continuous efforts being devoted to this field. They also have tremendous applications in organic synthesis. For example, phosphonates are extensively used as improved Wittig reagents for the synthesis of alkenes. Phosphines are important ligands in metal-catalyzed reactions. In particular, metal complexes with P-chiral ligands have significant asymmetries near the catalytic center, P-chiral phosphine ligands might produce strong chiral induction in asymmetric catalysis and thus provide high stereoselectivity of products. In addition, phosphorus compounds play an important role in material chemistry. Because of the excellent fire retardancy with low smoke and low toxicity, organophosphorus compounds are recognized as environment-benign fire retardants and their development has attracted much attention. Meanwhile, phosphoryl (P=O) groups have a high coordination ability with metals, the phosphorus-based metal extractants are also well known.

Despite the wide and promising applications of organophosphorus compounds, the efficient and general methods for preparing organophosphorus compounds are rather limited. Their preparation is highly dependent on the transformation of organohalides such as the nucleophilic substitution of P(O)X with metallic reagents (RMgX or RLi) or Z-H compounds (Z = heteroztom), Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction of alkyl halides with phosphites at high temperature and cross-coupling of P(O)-H compounds with aryl halides. Obviously, the synthesis of organophosphorus compounds needs modernization and thus benefits the expansion of their applications in various fields.

This Research Topic aims to collect scientific papers including original research articles, reviews, and perspectives on the synthesis of organophosphorus compounds. The works on the application of organophosphorus compounds are also welcomed. As such, the papers included in this Research Topic on the synthesis and application of organophosphorus compounds will include the following topics (but not restricted to):
• Synthesis of organophosphorus compounds;
• Phosphorus reagents;
• Phosphorus ligands and catalysts;
• Phosphorus-containing drugs and pesticides;
• Phosphorus-containing materials.

Topic editor Libiao Han is employed by Yangfan New Materials. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.