Editorial [Hot Topic: Special Issue on Organophosphorus Chemistry (Guest Editor: Gyorgy Keglevich)]

After the success of the 1st Organophosphorus (OP) special issue of Current Organic Chemistry consisting of two parts published back to back it is my pleasure to announce the 2nd. OP special issue approved by the Editor-in-Chief, Professor Attaur- Rahman and the management of Bentham. The first three papers cover relatively large molecules, such as phosphorus-containing cyclodextrins, calixarenes and cyclophanes, as well as dendrimers. The phosphorus-containing macrocycles form an important group due to supramolecular host-guest interactions allowing enantioselective syntheses based on chiral discrimination and making possible selective extractions and application as sensors. Phosphorus containing dendrimers represent a marvellous field involving the features of art and a real architecture. The next article is on the fragmentation and rearrangements of α-hydroxyiminoalkylphosphonates. The generation of metaphosphates is important from synthetic point of view, as the low-coordinate P-species are efficient phosphorylating agents; nevertheless the mechanism for the fragmentation is also of interest. The rich chemistry of N-vinylic phosphazenes is reflected in the next contribution, as they can be excellent building blocks in the synthesis of a variety of acyclic and heterocyclic compounds. The issue of stereogenic phosphorus remains an evergreen topic from the point of view of chirality, especially if it is discussed in a broader context including tricoordinated-, tetracoordinated-, pentacoordinated- and hexacoordinated phosphorus. Two papers cover the chemistry of sterically congested phosphorus compounds, such as tert-butyl substituted phosphinic and phosphinous acid derivatives, as well as crowded triarylphosphines. The presence of bulky P-substituents may be important from the point of view stability and mechanism, but may bring about advantages connected with the physical properties of the substrate. The next three articles fall in the scope of P-heterocyclic chemistry, but from entirely different approaches. Recent developments of the family of azaphospholes, that can be regarded to be modifications of the most common P-heterocycles, phospholes, are discussed. Then an up-to-date method for the synthesis of P-ligands applying zirconium reagents is shown and this is followed by the presentation of chiral heterocyclic phosphines together with asymmetric catalytic applications. Finally, the phosphorus aspects of green chemistry have been surveyed. The use of quaternary phosphonium salts and 1,3- dialkylimidazolium hexafluorophosphates are summarized including the major synthetic applications. The 1. Organophosphorus Special Issue has been divided into two parts published back to back. The six reviews included in this issue (Part I) is to be followed by six other articles in Volume 11, Number 1 (Part II). The forthcoming papers are the following: The Chemistry of Phosphinic and Phosphinous Acid Derivatives Containing t-Butyl Group as a Single Bulky Substituent: Synthetic, Mechanistic and Stereochemical Aspects by Józef Drabowicz, Wies awa Kudelska, Andrzej opusi ski and Adrian Zaj c Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Crowded Triarylphosphines by Shigeru Sasaki and Masaaki Yoshifuji Recent Advances in the Chemistry of Anellated Azaphospholes by Raj K. Bansal, Neelima Gupta and Surendra K. Kumawat Synthesis of Phosphorus Ligands from Zirconium Reagents. A Useful Approach by Maria Zablocka and Jean Pierre Majoral Synthesis of Chiral Heterocyclic Phosphines for Application in Asymmetric Catalysis by Jens Holz, Mandy-Nicole Gensow, O. Zayas and Armin Börner The Phosphorus Aspects of Green Chemistry: the Use of Quaternary Phosphonium Salts and 1,3-Dialkylimidazolium Hexafluorophosphates in Organic Synthesis by György Keglevich, Zoltán Baán, István Hermecz, Tibor Novák and Irina L. Odinets