Chiral imidodiphosphates and derivatives thereof

A chiral imidodiphosphate having the formula (I):

• wherein:
• X and Y may be, independently from each other, the same or different and represent one of O, S, Se and NRN,
• Z1 to Z4 represent O,
• n stands for 0 or 1,
• W is a substituent being capable of forming an ionic bond with the imidodiphosphate moiety,
• R1 to R4 may be, independently from each other, the same or different and may be each an aliphatic, heteroaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic group, each optionally being further substituted by one or more heterosubstituents, aliphatic, heteroaliphatic, aromatic or heteroaromatic groups whereby R1 and R2 form a ring system with Z1 and Z2 and R3 and R4 form a ring system with Z3 and Z4, respectively, and
• RN may be selected from hydrogen, C1 to C20 straight chain, branched chain or cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons, optionally having one or more unsaturated bonds, C3-C8-heterocycloalkyl or C6 to C20 aromatic hydrocarbon and partially arene-hydrogenated forms, each hydrocarbon optionally being substituted by one or more groups selected from C1 to C20 straight chain, branched chain or cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons, optionally having one or more unsaturated bonds, C3-C8-heterocycloalkyl or C6 to C20 aromatic hydrocarbon and partially arene-hydrogenated forms,
• and its tautomeric and ionic forms, and derivatives thereof.

A process for preparing chiral imidodiphosphates of the formula (V) comprising the steps of reacting a compound of the formula (VI) in the presence of a basic compound in an organic solvent with a compound of the formula (VII) to yield a compound of the formula (V) as shown in the following reaction scheme:

• wherein in said formulae (V), (VI and VII):
• L represents a leaving group selected from halogen, alkoxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy aryl, heteroaryl, OH, and
• wherein the substituent R may be the same or different on each position and may be heterosubstituent or RN, and
• W may be selected from hydrogen, halogen, a metal, or a cationic organic group, or a substituted silicon —SiRIRIIRIII, wherein RI, RII and RIII may be same or different and each stand for hydrogen, halogen, C1 to C20 straight chain, branched chain or cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons, optionally having one or more unsaturated bonds, C3-C8-heterocycloalkyl or C6 to C20 aromatic hydrocarbon and partially arene-hydrogenated forms, each hydrocarbon optionally being substituted by one or more groups selected from C1 to C20 straight chain, branched chain or cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons, optionally having one or more unsaturated bonds, C3-C8-heterocycloalkyl or C6 to C20 aromatic hydrocarbon and partially arene-hydrogenated forms thereof.