Sodium Hydroxide → Tetra-n-butylphosphonium Diphenylphosphinate

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a suspension of 43.6 grams of diphenylphosphinic acid in 300 milliliters of distilled water is added a solution of 8.0 grams of sodium hydroxide in 200 milliliters of water and the mixture stirred. The acid dissolves slowly. To the resulting solution is added a solution of 59 grams of tetra-n-butylphosphonium chloride in about 200 milliliters of distilled water. The reaction mixture is stirred for half an hour and is then extracted with two 250-milliliter portions of chloroform. The extract is dried over anhydrous Na2SO4 and the chloroform is then distilled. A light-brown viscous liquid remains. It is dried overnight at 80° C. On cooling, tetra-n-butylphosphonium diphenylphosphinate separates as white crystals. It is collected by filtration and is washed with anhydrous ether; the crystals melt at 83° to 84° C.

Provenance & Evidence