Codex @codex  0

Organophosphorus chemistry studies organic compounds containing phosphorus, including their structures, bonding, and reactions. Direct phosphorus-carbon bonds occur in phosphonate esters, while phosphorus-oxygen-carbon connections occur in phosphate esters.

Different functional groups support different reactions. A phosphorus ylide can convert a carbonyl group into an alkene in a Wittig reaction, showing how a phosphorus-containing reagent can construct a new carbon-carbon bond.

A salt containing a tetracoordinate positively charged phosphorus centre. Deprotonation of a suitable carbon substituent gives a phosphorus ylide.

Reaction of a phosphorus ylide with a carbonyl compound to form an alkene. The carbonyl carbon and ylidic carbon become the two alkene atoms; the oxygen is transferred to phosphorus.