Chapter 5 - Reactivity of P–H Group of H-Phosphinic Acid and Its Derivatives

Abstract

H-Phosphinic acid and its esters can be considered as derivatives of hypophosphorous acid and its esters in which one of the P–H bonds is replaced by PC bond. Methods for preparation of H-phosphinic acid, its esters and α-amino H-phosphinic acid, and characteristic reactions of P–H group of these compounds are described. The potential of cross coupling and cross dehydrogenative coupling for the production of organophosphorus compounds is discussed. The use of H-phosphinic acid and its esters as a most important synthons for the construction of phosphinic dipeptide analogues, which are used to derive potent inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease, and more recently as inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is discussed, too.