Dimethyl (2-acetoxyethyl)phosphonate → Dimethyl (2-hydroxyethyl)phosphonate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 50 g of 2-acetoxyethane phosphonic acid dimethyl ester in 100 ml of anhydrous methanol is heated to 65°-70°C for 5 hours, while adding one drop of concentrated sulfuric acid. A mixture of methyl acetate/methanol is removed continuously by distillation in the course of the reaction. After a distillation under reduced pressure 33.5 g of 2-hydroxyethane-phosphonic acid dimethyl ester are obtained, corresponding to a yield of 85% of the theoretical.

Provenance & Evidence