Recent Advances in Applying Carbonyl-stabilized Phosphorus Ylides for Catalysis

The exploration of new catalytic properties of the known functionalities would facilitate the exploitation of new ligands and/or organocatalysts that are able to achieve reactivity and selectivity unattainable by known ones. In this context, carbonyl-stabilized phosphorus ylides have emerged as a type of novel ligand motifs and organocatalysts, exhibiting versatile catalytic activity towards some important organic reactions such as cross-couplings, cyanation, CO₂ fixation. This Minireview summarizes these recent advances, highlights the advantages and limitations, and outlines synthetic opportunities still open for further investigation.