Diethyl benzylphosphonate → Phosphonic acid, benzyl-, monoethyl ester

Participants

Reaction Steps

Diethyl benzylphosphonate (5.0 mL, 5.5 g, 24 mmol) was dissolved in absolute EtOH (25 mL), then 50% NaOH (3 mL) was added. The reaction was heated under reflux overnight, allowed to cool to RT, then partitioned between 2N HCl and EtOAc. Washed organic layer with brine, extracted combined aqueous layers with EtOAc, dried combined organic layers over Na2SO4. After filtration and concentration recovered 4.5 g (93%). MS (DCI/NH3) 201/218 (M+H)+/(M+H+NH3)+.

Provenance & Evidence