This review provides an overview of recent efforts towards the synthesis of phosphinate heterocycles R(1)R(2)P(O)(OR). Our laboratory and others' have been involved in this field and as a result new P-C, P-N, and P-O containing heterocyclic motifs are now available through a variety of methods. While developing rapidly, this area is still in its infancy so that biological testing of the compounds has not yet been conducted and applications are rare. The growing availability of synthetic methods will undoubtedly change this situation in the near future.
Keywords: amino acid; heterocyle; organophosphorus; phosphinic; phosphorus.