Nature Chemistry - Selective Functionaliza­tion of White Phosphorus (P4)

White Phosphorus First

The main feedstock for the value-added phosphorus chemicals used in industry and research is white phosphorus (P₄), from which the key intermediate for forming P(III) compounds is PCl₃. Owing to its high reactivity, syntheses based on PCl₃ are often
accompanied by product mixtures and laborious work-up procedures, so an alternative process to form a viable P(III) transfer reagent is desirable.

Now, writing in Nature Chemistry, Jan Weigand and co-workers describe an approach to selectively generate a P1 transfer reagent from white phosphorus that enables the selective formation of P–C, P–N and P–O bonds. DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-00913-4.

See also the Nature Chemistry news & views article by Prof. Grützmacher (ETH Zurich).