First direct discrimination of chiral phosphorus thionate (P=S) derivatives by multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the presence of a chiral dirhodium complex.

Enantiomeric ratios of compounds with P=S functionalities can be determined by 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR spectroscopic inspection of their diastereomeric complexes with (R)-Rh2(MTPA)4 (MTPA-H identical with methoxytrifluoromethylphenylacetic acid; Mosher's acid). This is the first facile and rapid spectroscopic method for chiral recognition in this class of compounds. Whereas complexation shifts Deltadelta are moderate or even negligible, significant signal dispersions Delta(nu) can be observed. Some rationalization about the complexation mode is presented. The NMR spectral characteristics of the free P=S compounds 1-9 are described in detail.

Synthesis and biological activity of enantiomeric pairs of phosphosulfonate herbicides.

The phosphosulfonates are a new class of soil-active herbicides which control a variety of annual grass and broadleaf weeds. Chirality at the phosphorus atom afforded the opportunity to explore stereospecific requirements for herbicidal activity. Chiral (hydroxymethyl)phosphinate intermediates were enzymatically resolved (Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase) from the racemic mixtures and then used to prepare two pairs of enantiomeric phosphosulfonates. Biological testing of the enantiomeric phosphosulfonate herbicides demonstrated that, in each case, the herbicidal activity was attributed to the (+) enantiomer and that the (+) enantiomer is more active than the racemate.