THE SYNTHESIS OF ALKYLPHOSPHONOUS DICHLORIDES FROM ALUMINUM CHLORIDE – PHOSPHORUS TRICHLORIDE – ALKYL CHLORIDE COMPLEXES

In 1957, a new method for the synthesis of methylphosphonous dichloride, in high yield, by the reduction of the aluminum chloride – phosphorus trichloride – methyl chloride complex in diethyl phthalate solution by finely powdered antimony, was developed. That this is a general method for the synthesis of the more volatile alkylphosphonous dichlorides was demonstrated by the preparation, in good yield, of a series of compounds from the aluminum chloride – phosphorus trichloride complexes formed from ethyl chloride, n-propyl chloride, i-propyl chloride, n-butyl chloride, and s-butyl chloride. As expected, isomerization occurred in the case of the normal alkyl chlorides.