Diethyl 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzylphosphonate → {[4-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl}phosphonic acid

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Reaction Steps

The diethyl 4-trifluoromethylbenzylphosphonate (3.0 g, 10 mmol) was dissolved in a mixture of 50 mL of conc hydrochloric acid and 5 mL of EtOH and heated at reflux for 17 hours. After cooling the mixture in an ice bath, white crystalline material was collected. Recrystallization of the solid from H2O gave 1.80 g, 75% of the analytically pure product: mp=163°-164° C.; D.C.I.M.S. [MH+, 241].

Provenance & Evidence