Catalytic synthesis of phosphines and related compounds

Phosphines play an important role in organometallic chemistry, homogeneous catalysis and synthetic chemistry. Traditionally, phosphines are mainly prepared by one of the following methods: reaction of halophosphines with organometallic reagents, reaction of phosphides with halides, addition of RR'PH to C-C multiple bonds, Friedel-Crafts reactions and reduction of phosphine oxides. In the past one decade or so, powerful catalytic methods have emerged, allowing a variety of structurally and electronically diverse phosphines to be accessed more easily and efficiently. This review, not attempted to be comprehensive, aims to summarise, and demonstrate the utility of, important catalytic methods that have been employed in the synthesis of phosphines and related organophosphorus compounds. The review focuses on reactions involving hydrophosphination, hydrophosphorylation, P-C coupling, C-C coupling and olefin metathesis.