Metal and Organometalloidal Phosphites and Phosphonates

Dialkyl phosphonates are versatile chemical reagents in which existence of phosphonate and phosphite equilibrium makes them an interesting series of ambidentate ligands. The mode of chemical bonding in their metal and organometal derivatives offers interesting possibilities. Phosphorus-31 NMR spectroscopy provides convincing evidence regarding the chemical bonding modes. The present review article describes the reactions of metal and organometal halides with dialkyl phosphonates (e.g., Li, Na, K, Ag, Ca, Zn, Cd, Co, Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Ta, Ru, Ir, W, Ni, Pd, Pt, B, Al, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, P, As, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Yb, etc.)