Anionic Cascade Routes to Sulfur and Nitrogen Heterocycles Originating from Thio- and Aminophosphate Precursors

This micro-review attempts to comprehensively cover reported reactions employing thio- and aminophosphate precursors for forming sulfur and nitrogen heterocycles. All such reactions are triggered by initial formation of an alkoxide, most commonly by attack of a carbon or heteroatom nucleophile onto a carbonyl group. The alkoxide intermediate facilitates an intramolecular transfer of the phosphate group to form a thiolate or nitrogen atom anion, which then terminate the anionic cascade via an intramolecular O-phosphate displacement reaction to form the heterocyclic products.