Homogeneous catalysis for H-P bond addition reactions

Although patents disclosed transition metal-catalyzed addition of PH3 to formaldehyde and acrylonitrile more than four decades ago, exploration into the synthetic scope of and the mechanistic study on the metal complex-catalyzed addition of P-H bonds have been made only within the last ten years. Not only PH3 but also a variety of P-H bonds have been found to add in the presence of metal complex catalysts. As for the substrate, recently reported new procedures are applicable to a wide range of alkenes, dienes, and alkynes. Control and even reversal of regioselectivity are also possible by tuning the ligand nature and by the use of an appropriate additive. Optically active compounds with chirality on phosphorus are also readily synthesized. This chapter summarizes the current state of the art in this emerging area of homogeneous catalysis, which provides a powerful tool to synthesize organophosphorus compounds.