A library of P-rhodamines was prepared via a new robust sequence that creates the core heterocycle by addition of diaryllithium reagents to esters. The first SAR study for P-rhodamines shows that they are NIR-emissive and highly bright fluorophores.

Here, we have summarized more than 30 representative natural product syntheses published in 2015 to 2020 that employ one or more Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reactions. We comprehensively describe the applied phosphonate reagents, HWE reaction conditions and key steps of the total synthetic approaches. Our comprehensive review will support future synthetic approaches and serve as guideline to find the best HWE conditions for the most complicated natural products known