Synthesis 2004(18): 2995-2998  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-834898
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Pseudohalogenation of Phosphites

Enxue Shi*, Chengxin Pei
Beijing Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Beijing, 102205, P. R. China
Fax: +86(10)69767099; e-Mail: shienxue@yahoo.com.cn;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 29 March 2004
Publication Date:
02 November 2004 (online)

Abstract

A new type of Atherton-Todd reaction for a convenient pseudohalogenation of phosphites has been developed. Direct azidation, cyanation, and thiocyanation of (RO)2P(O)H (R = Et, i-Bu, Ph) were accomplished readily with sodium pseudohalides in acetonitrile under mild modified Atherton-Todd conditions. The corresponding phosphorochloridates were demonstrated by GC/MS to be the intermediates. Pseudohalogenations of ethyl phenylphosphinate and diphenylphosphine oxide were also investigated.