Enantiodivergent Formation of C–P Bonds: Synthesis of P-Chiral Phosphines and Methylphosphonate Oligonucleotides

Phosphorus Incorporation (PI, abbreviated Π) reagents for the modular, scalable, and stereospecific synthesis of chiral phosphines and methylphosphonate nucleotides are reported. Synthesized from trans-limonene oxide, this reagent class displays an unexpected reactivity profile and enables access to chemical space distinct from that of the Phosphorus-Sulfur Incorporation reagents previously disclosed. Here, the adaptable phosphorus(V) scaffold enables sequential addition of carbon nucleophiles to produce a variety of enantiopure C-P building blocks. Addition of three carbon nucleophiles to Π, followed by stereospecific reduction, affords useful P-chiral phosphines; introduction instead of a single methyl group reveals the first stereospecific synthesis of methylphosphonate oligonucleotide precursors. While both Π enantiomers are available, only one isomer is required-the order of nucleophile addition controls the absolute stereochemistry of the final product through a unique enantiodivergent design.