Recent Breakthroughs in P₄ Chemistry: Towards Practical, Direct Transformations into P₁ Compounds

For several decades, academic researchers have been intensively studying the chemistry of white phosphorus (P₄) in the hope of developing direct methods for its transformation into useful P-containing products. This would bypass the hazardous, multistep procedures currently relied on by industry. However, while academically interesting P4 activation reactions have become well established, their elaboration into useful, general synthetic procedures has remained out of reach. Very recently, however, a series of independent reports has begun to change this state of affairs. Each shows how relatively simple and practical synthetic methods can be used to access academically or industrially relevant P₁ compounds from P₄ directly, in “one pot” or even in a catalytic fashion. These reports mark a step change in the field of P₄ chemistry, and suggest its possible transition from an area of largely academic interest to one with the promise of true synthetic relevance.