Wittig–Horner reagents: powerful tools in the synthesis of 5-and 6-heterocyclic compounds; shedding light on their application in pharmaceutical chemistry

This paper reviews literature over 25 years’ activity on phosphoryl carbanion reagents and shows that these compounds are powerful tools in organic chemistry. The main target of this review is to outline some of the reactive peculiarities that make this class of compounds powerful tools in the synthesis of 5- and 6-heterocyclic compounds and/or substituted heterocycle phosphor esters. The importance of these latter compounds in pharmacology is also discussed.