Chapter 2 - Reactivity of P–H Group of Phosphines

Abstract

Methods for preparation of phosphine, primary and secondary phosphines, primary and secondary diphosphines, phosphine–boranes, and primary and secondary phosphine–boranes and their characteristic reactions, namely—alkylation, oxidation, addition reactions, substitution reactions, cross-coupling reactions, and cross-dehydrogenative reactions of P–H group of the abovementioned compounds are described. Phosphine compounds are considered until now only as an important class of ligands for various transition metals, but primary phosphines and phosphine–boranes have a big potential for delivering oligomeric and polymeric materials. Metal-catalyzed coupling and dehydrocoupling of air-stable primary phosphines and phosphine–boranes are terrifically attractive reactions for polymer chemistry. These reactions could be a route to exciting new polymer-based products. Polymeric phosphine–boranes, formed from transitionmetal-mediated dehydrocoupling, have significant potential to be technologically interesting materials.