Catalytic enantioselective hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes and imines

In this review, recent advances in catalytic asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes and imines are discussed. We also summarize several proposed mechanisms for the different possibilities of asymmetric induction and the application of this catalytic methodology to the enantioselective synthesis of α-amino and α-hydroxy phosphonates. A variety of metal-based chiral catalysts as well as several organic catalysts have been exploited as suitable systems for the preparation of enantiomerically pure phosphonates. The recent evolution and future trends of those and other catalytic systems are described.We thank the Ministry of Science and Education (Madrid, Spain; Project CTQ2007-67532-C02-01), the Aragón I+D Foundation for a contract to R.P.H. and the Junta de Andalucía for a contract to E.M.L.Peer Reviewe