Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Preparation and Reactivity of a Triphosphenium Bromide Salt: A Convenient and Stable Source of Phosphorus(I)
Published on: November 22, 2016
Asymmetric synthesis and organometallic chemistry of functionalized phosphines containing stereogenic phosphorus
1Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge, Singapore 119260.
Abstract:
A series of organometallic reagents containing orthometalated chiral amine auxiliaries have been utilized as chiral templates to activate phospholes, vinylphosphines, and alkynylphosphines toward asymmetric ligand transformations via cycloaddition and hydroamination reactions. By a systemic manipulation of the subtle stereoelectronic properties of the auxiliaries and the metal centers, the template properties could be modified and the origins of stereoselectivity revealed. The chiral templates are able to control the disposition of selected functionalities into designated locations on the transformed P-stereogenic mono- and diphosphine ligands. This Account provides an overview of our recent work in this area.
Related Concept Videos
Chirality at Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
A consequence of chirality is the need for enantiomeric resolution. While this is theoretically possible for all...
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Hydroboration
Hydroboration proceeds in a concerted fashion with the attack of borane on the π bond, giving a cyclic four-centered transition state. The –BH2 group is bonded to the less substituted carbon and –H to the more substituted carbon. The concerted nature requires the simultaneous addition of –H and –BH2 across the same face of the alkene giving syn stereochemistry.
Aldehydes and Ketones to Alkenes: Wittig Reaction Mechanism
The reaction begins with the nucleophilic addition between a phosphorus ylide and the carbonyl compound. Due to its carbanionic character, phosphorus ylide acts as a strong nucleophile and attacks the electrophilic carbonyl group. This generates a charge-separated dipolar intermediate called betaine. The negatively charged oxygen atom and...
Synthesis of α-Substituted Carbonyl Compounds: The Stork Enamine Reaction
