Methods of synthesis and synthetic application of α-diazomethylphosphonates

Data on methods of synthesis and reactivity of α-diazomethylphosphonic acid esters are classified. Main approaches to obtain diazomethylphosphonate ester (the Seyferth—Gilbert reagent) as well as α-substituted diazomethylphosphonates are considered. The most important reactions of α-diazomethylphosphonates are discussed: [1+2] cycloaddition to alkenes, insertion into heteroatom—heteroatom bonds, reactions with aldehydes and ketones, being of interest as preparative methods to obtain cyclopropane phosphonates, α-substituted methylphosphonic esters and alkynes, correspondingly.