p-Toluenesulfonic acid → Dimethyl (2-hydroxyethyl)phosphonate

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 100 g of 2-acetoxyethane-phosphonic acid dimethyl ester in 100 ml of anhydrous methanol -- 4 g of p-toluenesulfonic acid being added -- is heated for 5 hours to 65°-75°C while removing simultaneously by distillation a mixture of methyl acetate/methanol. After distillation under reduced pressure, 59 g of 2-hydroxyethane-phosphonic acid dimethyl ester are obtained, corresponding to a yield of 75% of the theoretical.

Provenance & Evidence