Formaldehyde → Dibenzyl (hydroxymethyl)phosphonate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

100 ml of dibenzyl phosphite, 12.5 g of paraformaldehyde and 6.2 ml of triethylamine were mixed together with stirring. On slow warming to 55° C., a temperature increase to 120° C. took place. The solution, which was now clear, was allowed to cool to 90° C. and was stirred at this temperature for a further 30 minutes. After cooling to room temperature, it was chromatographed on 1 kg of silica gel at elevated pressure (eluent: n-hexane/ethyl acetate 1:4). After concentrating the fractions and drying the residue in vacuo at 60° C. for 12 hours, 96.1 g of pure, oily dibenzyl hydroxymethylphosphonate were obtained, which was reacted without further purification.

Provenance & Evidence