Dehydrative Cross-Coupling and Related Reactions between Alcohols (C-OH) and P(O)-H Compounds for C-P Bond Formation

In recent decades, reactions of inexpensive and abundantly available alcohols (C-OH) with nucleophilic P(O)-H compounds, leading to the construction of C-P bonds, have emerged as one of the most efficient strategies as it is an atom-economical and environmental benign approach with water as the only by-product. Various organophosphorus compounds bearing C(sp(3))-P, C(aryl)-P and C(alkenyl)-P bonds have been achieved via this direct dehydrative cross-couplings under BrOnsted or Lewis acid catalysis. This review article aims to summarize the recent advances in such dehydrative and related C-P bond forming strategies, to briefly discuss the reaction mechanisms and challenges, and to outline synthetic opportunities that are still open.