Syntheses, characterization, stereochemistry and complexing properties of acyclic and macrocyclic compounds possessing alpha-amino or alpha-hydroxyphosphonate units: A review article

In this article we shall review the salient aspects concerning the synthese s, characterization, and complexing properties of variously substituted mon o- and bis-(alpha -amino)- and (alpha -hydroxy)-phosphonates. Characterizat ion of these compounds was mainly achieved by H-1, C-13, and P-31 NMR spect roscopy by FABMS techniques, and by X-ray diffraction analyses. Hydrolytic cleavage in alkaline solutions of the dialkyl esters gave the corresponding monoesters, which also show good complexing properties toward standard met als and lanthanides. The last section of this article is dedicated to a review of the synthesis, characterization and stereo- chemistry of cyclophanes, and macrocyclic com pounds possessing phosphonate units. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.