Recent advances in phosphorus–carbon bond formation: synthesis of H-phosphinic acid derivatives from hypophosphorous compounds

This account summarizes the research conducted in our laboratory over the past five years. New methodologies were devised for the formation of P–C bonds with a focus on the reactions of hypophosphorous acid derivatives. Three types of reactions have been developed: palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling, room-temperature radical addition, and palladium-catalyzed addition. Our results are summarized in each of these areas and include some of our most recent data. (1) Our palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling has been extended to the direct coupling of alkyl phosphinates with a variety of aryl, heteroaryl, and even alkenyl electrophiles. (2) The addition of sodium hypophosphite under radical conditions is extended from alkenes to alkynes. (3) The catalytic addition of hypophosphorous compounds using palladium catalysts (hydrophosphinylation) is also discussed.