Organophosphorus compound

Organophosphorus compounds are organic compounds containing phosphorus.^[1] They are used primarily in pest control as an alternative to chlorinated hydrocarbons that persist in the environment. Some organophosphorus compounds are highly effective insecticides, although some are extremely toxic to humans, including sarin and VX nerve agents.^[2]

Organophosphorus chemistry is the corresponding science of the properties and reactivity of organophosphorus compounds. Phosphorus, like nitrogen, is in group 15 of the periodic table, and thus phosphorus compounds and nitrogen compounds have many similar properties.^[3][4][5] The definition of organophosphorus compounds is variable, which can lead to confusion. In industrial and environmental chemistry, an organophosphorus compound need contain only an organic substituent, but need not have a direct phosphorus-carbon (P-C) bond.^{[citation needed]} Thus a large proportion of pesticides (e.g., malathion), are often included in this class of compounds.

Phosphorus can adopt a variety of oxidation states, and it is general to classify organophosphorus compounds based on their being derivatives of phosphorus(V) vs phosphorus(III), which are the predominant classes of compounds. In a descriptive but only intermittently used nomenclature, phosphorus compounds are identified by their coordination number σ and their valency λ. In this system, a phosphine is a σ³λ³ compound.

Organophosphorus(V) compounds, main categories[]

Phosphate esters and amides[]

Phosphate esters have the general structure P(=O)(OR)₃ feature P(V). Such species are of technological importance as flame retardant agents, and plasticizers. Lacking a P−C bond, these compounds are in the technical sense not organophosphorus compounds but esters of phosphoric acid. Many derivatives are found in nature, such as phosphatidylcholine. Phosphate ester are synthesized by alcoholysis of phosphorus oxychloride. A variety of mixed amido-alkoxo derivatives are known, one medically significant example being the anti-cancer drug cyclophosphamide. Also derivatives containing the thiophosphoryl group (P=S) include the pesticide malathion. The organophosphates prepared on the largest scale are the zinc dithiophosphates, as additives for motor oil. Several million kilograms of this coordination complex are produced annually by the reaction of phosphorus pentasulfide with alcohols.^[6]

Illustrative organophosphates and related compounds: phosphatidylcholine, triphenylphosphate, cyclophosphamide, parathion, and zinc dithiophosphate.

In the environment, these compounds break down via hydrolysis to eventually afford phosphate and the organic alcohol or amine from which they are derived.

Phosphonic and phosphinic acids and their esters[]

Phosphonates are esters of phosphonic acid and have the general formula RP(=O)(OR')₂. Phosphonates have many technical applications, a well-known member being glyphosate, better known as Roundup. With the formula (HO)₂P(O)CH₂NHCH₂CO₂H, this derivative of glycine is one of the most widely used herbicides. Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs to treat osteoporosis. The nerve gas agent sarin, containing both C–P and F–P bonds, is a phosphonate.

Phosphinates feature two P–C bonds, with the general formula R₂P(=O)(OR'). A commercially significant member is the herbicide Glufosinate. Similar to glyphosate mentioned above, it has the structure CH₃P(O)(OH)CH₂CH₂CH(NH₂)CO₂H.

Illustrative examples of phosphonates and phosphinates in the order shown: Sarin (phosphonate), Glyphosate (phosphonate), fosfomycin (phosphonate), zoledronic acid (phosphonate), and Glufosinate (phosphinate). In aqueous solution, phosphonic acids ionize to give the corresponding organophosphonates.

The Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction is the main method for the synthesis of these compounds. For example, dimethylmethylphosphonate (see figure above) arises from the rearrangement of trimethylphosphite, which is catalyzed by methyl iodide. In the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction and the Seyferth–Gilbert homologation, phosphonates are used in reactions with carbonyl compounds. The Kabachnik–Fields reaction is a method for the preparation of aminophosphonates. These compounds contain a very inert bond between phosphorus and carbon. Consequently, they hydrolyze to give phosphonic and phosphinic acid derivatives, but not phosphate.

Phosphine oxides, imides, and chalcogenides[]

Phosphine oxides (designation σ⁴λ⁵) have the general structure R₃P=O with formal oxidation state V. Phosphine oxides form hydrogen bonds and some are therefore soluble in water. The P=O bond is very polar with a dipole moment of 4.51 D for triphenylphosphine oxide.

Compounds related to phosphine oxides include phosphine imides (R₃PNR') and related chalcogenides (R₃PE, where E = S, Se, Te). These compounds are some of the most thermally stable organophosphorus compounds.

Phosphonium salts and phosphoranes[]

Compounds with the formula [PR₄⁺]X⁻ comprise the phosphonium salts. These species are tetrahedral phosphorus(V) compounds. From the commercial perspective, the most important member is tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride, [P(CH₂OH)₄]Cl, which is used as a fire retardant in textiles. Approximately 2M kg are produced annually of the chloride and the related sulfate.^[6] They are generated by the reaction of phosphine with formaldehyde in the presence of the mineral acid:

PH₃ + HX + 4 CH₂O → [P(CH₂OH)₄⁺]X⁻

A variety of phosphonium salts can be prepared by alkylation and arylation of organophosphines:

PR₃ + R'X → [PR₃R'⁺]X⁻

The methylation of triphenylphosphine is the first step in the preparation of the Wittig reagent.

Illustrative phosphorus(V) compounds: the phosphonium ion P(CH₂OH)₄⁺, two resonance structures for the Wittig reagent Ph₃PCH₂, and pentaphenylphosphorane, a rare pentaorganophophorus compound.

The parent phosphorane (σ⁵λ⁵) is PH₅, which is unknown.^{[citation needed]} Related compounds containing both halide and organic substituents on phosphorus are fairly common. Those with five organic substituents are rare, although P(C₆H₅)₅ is known, being derived from P(C₆H₅)₄⁺ by reaction with phenyllithium.

Phosphorus ylides are unsaturated phosphoranes, known as Wittig reagents, e.g. CH₂P(C₆H₅)₃. These compounds feature tetrahedral phosphorus(V) and are considered relatives of phosphine oxides. They also are derived from phosphonium salts, but by deprotonation not alkylation.

Organophosphorus(III) compounds, main categories[]

Phosphites, phosphonites, and phosphinites[]

Phosphites, sometimes called phosphite esters, have the general structure P(OR)₃ with oxidation state +3. Such species arise from the alcoholysis of phosphorus trichloride:

PCl₃ + 3 ROH → P(OR)₃ + 3 HCl

The reaction is general, thus a vast number of such species are known. Phosphites are employed in the Perkow reaction and the Michaelis–Arbuzov reaction. They also serve as ligands in organometallic chemistry.

Intermediate between phosphites and phosphines are phosphonites (P(OR)₂R') and phosphinite (P(OR)R'₂). Such species arise via alcoholysis reactions of the corresponding phosphinous and phosphonous chlorides ((PClR'₂) and PCl₂R', respectively).

Phosphines[]

The parent compound of the phosphines is PH₃, called phosphine in the US and British Commonwealth, but phosphane elsewhere.^[7] Replacement of one or more hydrogen centers by an organic substituents (alkyl, aryl), gives PH_3−xR_x, an organophosphine, generally referred to as phosphines.

Various reduced organophosphorus compounds: a complex of an organophosphine pincer ligand, the chiral diphosphine used in homogeneous catalysis, the primary phosphine PhPH₂, and the phosphorus(I) compound (PPh)₅.

Comparison of phosphines and amines[]

The phosphorus atom in phosphines has a formal oxidation state −3 (σ³λ³) and are the phosphorus analogues of amines. Like amines, phosphines have a trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry although often with smaller C-E-C angles (E = N, P), at least in the absence of steric effects. The C-P-C bond angle is 98.6° for trimethylphosphine increasing to 109.7° when the methyl groups are replaced by tert-butyl groups. When used as ligands, the steric bulk of tertiary phosphines is evaluated by their cone angle. The barrier to pyramidal inversion is also much higher than nitrogen inversion to occur, and therefore phosphines with three different substituents can be resolved into thermally stable optical isomers. Phosphines are often less basic than corresponding amines, for instance the phosphonium ion itself has a pK_a of −14 compared to 9.21 for the ammonium ion; trimethylphosphonium has a pK_a of 8.65 compared to 9.76 for trimethylammonium. However, triphenylphosphine (pK_a 2.73) is more basic than triphenylamine (pK_a −5), mainly because the lone pair of the nitrogen in NPh₃ is partially delocalized into the three phenyl rings. Whereas the lone pair on nitrogen is delocalized in pyrrole, the lone pair on phosphorus atom in the phosphorus equivalent of pyrrole (phosphole) is not. The reactivity of phosphines matches that of amines with regard to nucleophilicity in the formation of phosphonium salts with the general structure PR₄⁺X⁻. This property is used in the Appel reaction for converting alcohols to alkyl halides. Phosphines are easily oxidized to the corresponding phosphine oxides, whereas amine oxides are less readily generated. In part for this reason, phosphines are very rarely encountered in nature.

Synthetic routes[]

From the commercial perspective, the most important phosphine is triphenylphosphine, several million kilograms being produced annually. It is prepared from the reaction of chlorobenzene, PCl₃, and sodium.^[6] Phosphines of a more specialized nature are usually prepared by other routes.^[8] Phosphorus halides undergo Nucleophilic displacement by organometallic reagents such as Grignard reagents. Conversely, some syntheses entail nucleophilic displacement of phosphide anion equivalents ("R₂P⁻") by aryl- and alkyl halides. Primary (RPH₂) and secondary phosphines (RRPH and R₂PH) add to alkenes in presence of a strong base (e.g., KOH in DMSO). Markovnikov's rules apply. Similar reactions occur involving alkynes.^[9] Base is not required for electron-deficient alkenes (e.g., derivatives of acrylonitrile) and alkynes.

Under free-radical conditions the P-H bonds of primary and secondary phosphines add across alkenes. Such reactions proceed with anti-Markovnikov regiochemistry. AIBN or organic peroxides are used as initiators. Tertiary phosphine oxides and sulfides can be reduced with chlorosilanes and other reagents.

Reactions[]

Organophosphines are nucleophiles and ligands. Two major applications are as reagents in the Wittig reaction and as supporting phosphine ligands in homogeneous catalysis.

Their nucleophilicity is evidenced by their reactions with alkyl halides to give phosphonium salts. Phosphines are nucleophilic catalysts in organic synthesis, e.g. the Rauhut–Currier reaction and Baylis-Hillman reaction.

Phosphines are reducing agents, as illustrated in the Staudinger reduction for the conversion of organic azides to amines and in the Mitsunobu reaction for converting alcohols into esters. In these processes, the phosphine is oxidized to phosphorus(V). Phosphines have also been found to reduce activated carbonyl groups, for instance the reduction of an α-keto ester to an α-hydroxy ester in scheme 2.^[10] In the proposed reaction mechanism, the first proton is on loan from the methyl group in trimethylphosphine (triphenylphosphine does not react).

Reduction of activated carbonyl groups by alkyl phosphines

Primary and secondary phosphines[]

In addition to the other reactions associated with phosphines, those bearing P-H groups exhibit additional reactivity associated with the P-H bonds. They are readily deprotonated using strong bases to give phosphide anions. Primary and secondary phosphines are generally prepared by reduction of related phosphorus halides or esters, but phosphonates can also be reduced to primary phosphines, for example:^[11]

Example of reduction of phosphonate ester to a primary phosphine.

The binaphthyl primary phosphine illustrated above demonstrates remarkable air-stability, which is attributed to the high degree of conjugation in the binaphthyl backbone.^[12] The same explanation was used to explain the air-stability of the first highly fluorescent primary phosphine, BodPH2.^[13]

Phosphaalkenes and phosphaalkynes[]

Compounds with carbon phosphorus(III) multiple bonds are called phosphaalkenes (R₂C=PR) and phosphaalkynes (RC≡P). They are similar in structure, but not in reactivity, to imines (R₂C=NR) and nitriles (RC≡N), respectively. In the compound phosphorine, one carbon atom in benzene is replaced by phosphorus. Species of this type are relatively rare but for that reason are of interest to researchers. A general method for the synthesis of phosphaalkenes is by 1,2-elimination of suitable precursors, initiated thermally or by base such as DBU, DABCO, or triethylamine:

Thermolysis of Me₂PH generates CH₂=PMe, an unstable species in the condensed phase.

Organophosphorus(0), (I), and (II) compounds[]

Compounds where phosphorus exists in a formal oxidation state of less than III are uncommon, but examples are known for each class. Organophosphorus(0) species are debatably illustrated by the carbene adducts, [P(NHC)]₂, where NHC is an N-heterocyclic carbene.^[14] With the formulae (RP)_n and (R₂P)₂, respectively, compounds of phosphorus(I) and (II) are generated by reduction of the related organophosphorus(III) chlorides:

5 PhPCl₂ + 5 Mg → (PhP)₅ + 5 MgCl₂

2 Ph₂PCl + Mg → Ph₂P-PPh₂ + MgCl₂

Diphosphenes, with the formula R₂P₂, formally contain phosphorus-phosphorus double bonds. These phosphorus(I) species are rare but are stable provided that the organic substituents are large enough to prevent catenation. Many mixed-valence compounds are known, e.g. the cage P₇(CH₃)₃.

See also[]

• Activity-based proteomics a branch of biochemistry that often relies on organophosphorus probes to interrogate enzyme activities
• Organophosphates
• Bihar school meal poisoning incident
• Organothiophosphates

References[]

External links[]

• organophosphorus chemistry @ users.ox.ac.uk; @ www.chem.wisc.edu
• NMR predictor for organophosphorus compound chemical shifts from Alan Brisdon's Research Group Link