Rapid progress in the field of organophosphate compounds has made this new edition necessary. Particular attention has been paid to new developments in biologically active products as this is probably of greatest interest to practical chemists. I have therefore updated the chapter on chemistry and, in connection with this, rewritten the chapter on metabolism. I should especially like to thank Professor Dr. HELLMUT HOFFMANN for his constant encouragement and interest in my work and for many fruitful discus sions. The co-author to the 1st edition, Dr. KARL-JULIUS SCHMIDT, died suddenly on November 21, 1980. I treasure the memory of a valued colleague of many years standing. Elberfeld, January 1982 CHRISTA FEST VII Preface to the First Edition Our intention has been to provide a short introduction to the chemistry and mode of action of insecticidal phosphoric acid compounds, with particular ref erence to the relationship between structure and activity. The yearly produc tion of these pesticides is now approaching 100,000 tons and thus offers an im portant example of applied research. If, however, one examines the historical development of these compounds, it is apparent that this was preceded by a hundred years of pure chemistry of phosphorus.

This book aims to open new fields of interest in phosphate chemistry and to suggest a new system of classification for phosphates. Due to the very rapid development of this branch of chemistry during the last thirty years and the very confusing nomenclature often used in chemical literature, this first attempt seems not only justified but necessary. The suggested classification is not revolutionary, with respect to condensed phosphates for instance, but establishes clear boundaries between some categories of compounds such as adducts and heteropolyanion-compounds. The first chapters cover the present state of phosphate chemistry in a general way and could serve as an introduction to phosphates for some categories of students or teachers. The next few chapters are devoted to more specialized topics which would be of interest to chemists, crystallographers or solid-state specialists.Some specific aspects of the crystal chemistry of phosphates, such as the geometry of the networks built by acidic phosphoric anions, for instance, are covered for the first time. The final chapter suggests some improvements for the present system of classification for phosphates.In addition, presented for the first time are the results recently obtained for the replacement of asbestos by harmless biodegradable phosphate fibers.

Phosphorus Chemistry Directed Towards Biology presents an understanding of reaction mechanisms of organophosphorus compounds. This book discusses the development of analytical tools for the study of the chemistry of phosphorus, which promoted research in nucleic acid chemistry. Organized into 22 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the importance of the bacterial cell wall in maintaining the integrity of the cell in various environments. This text then examines the chemical problems concerning hypermodification and deprotection steps. Other chapters consider the reactive phosphorylating intermediates used in the oligonucleotide chemistry. This book discusses as well the possible role of phosphodiester triazolides and tetrazolides in the phosphotriester formation with arenesulfonyltriazolides and tetrazolides. The final chapter deals with the isolation of proteins involved in the synthesis and recognition of mRNA caps. This book is a valuable resource for phosphorus chemists, biologists, scientists, research workers, teachers, and students.

Alexander Todd, the 1957 Nobel laureate in chemistry is credited with the statement: "where there is life, there is phosphorus". Phosphorus chemical biology underlies most of life's reactions and processes, from the covalent bonds that hold RNA and DNA together, to the making and spending 75 kg of ATP every day, required to run almost all metabolic and mechanical events in cells. Authored by a renowned biochemist, The Chemical Biology of Phosphorus provides an in-depth, unifying chemical approach to the logic and reactivity of inorganic phosphate and its three major derivatives (anhydrides, mono- and diesters) throughout biology to examine why life depends on phosphorus. Covering the breadth of phosphorus chemistry in biology, this book is ideal for biochemistry students, postgraduates and researchers interested in the chemical logic of phosphate metabolites, energy generation, biopolymer accumulation and phosphoproteomics.