Synthetic Approaches to Selenophosphates and Tellurophosphates

Organoselenophosphates and tellurophosphates represent important structural motifs in organochalcogenophosphorus chemistry and exhibit unique electronic properties, distinctive biological activities, and versatile synthetic utility. This review provides a systematic overview of recent methodological advances in the synthesis of these two classes of compounds, with particular emphasis on the mechanistic features of key transformations. For selenophosphates, the synthetic strategies are categorized into seven classes based on the selenium source employed: selenohalides, selenophthalimides, selenocyanates, selenols, selenosulfonates, elemental selenium powder, and diselenides. The reaction characteristics and substrate scope of each approach are discussed in detail. In contrast, synthetic methods for tellurophosphates remain considerably less developed, primarily because of the inherent instability of P–Te bonds between air, moisture, and light. The available protocols for tellurophosphate construction are also comprehensively reviewed. Finally, future challenges and opportunities in this field are highlighted, including catalytic selenium/tellurium recycling, asymmetric synthesis, stability enhancement, and applications against drug-resistant bacteria, with the aim of providing reference and inspiration for further research in this underexplored area.