Phosphine-catalysed transformations of ortho - and para -quinone methides.

Organocatalytic methodologies for the derivatization of o -QM, p -QM and the analogous aza-QM have been recently developed and involve different catalytic systems such as phosphoric acids, thioureas, squaramides, NHC carbenes or chiral ammonium salts. Besides, phosphines, commonly used as ligands in metal-catalysed reactions, can be also used as organocatalysts. In this case, they are mainly involved as nucleophilic catalysts in reactions such as the Rauhut-Currier (RC) reaction. In this review, an analysis of the recent developments in racemic and enantioselective phosphine-catalysed transformations of o -QM, p -QM and aza- o -QM has been carried out.