Industrial phosphorus chemistry, examples

Because organophosphorus compounds are important in the chemical industry and in biology, many methods have been developed for their synthesis [1]. This chapter reviews the formation of phosphorus-carbon (P-C) bonds by the metal-catalyzed addition of phosphorus-hydrogen (P-H) bonds to unsaturated substrates, such as alkenes, alkynes, aldehydes, and imines. Section 5.2 covers reactions of P(lll) substrates (hydrophosphination), and Section 5.3 describes P(V) chemistry (hydrophosphorylation, hydrophosphinylation, hydrophosphonylation). Scheme 5-1 shows some examples of these catalytic reactions. 

Extensive chemistry of P-N systems is known and many such compounds - for example, the polyphosphazenes - are of intense industrial importance. The chemistry of all snch systems is covered elsewhere see Phosphorus-Nitrogen Compounds). 

Even from such a brief overview of its chemistry, it should be clear that phosphorus is an element still at the forefront of all areas of practical chemistry - from purely academic right to decidedly industrial. Though many of the latter uses are declining because of environmental concerns - witness the decrease in the use of phosphate detergents, ZDDP oil additives and organophosphorus pesticides - the fact remains that demand for the element is still enormous. Eventually, as the twenty-first century progresses, this demand will impact upon resources, and economics will dictate that phosphate recovery, - for example, from sewage - becomes vital. Much work to this end is already underway. ... 

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