Dialkoxy-1,1-dialkyl-3-phosphono propanes prodn - by reacting trialkyl phosphites, with acrolein in the presence of an alkanol

摘要

Dialkoxy-1, 1-dialkyl-3-phosphonopropanes (R1O)2POCH2CH2CH(OR2)2 (I) (where R1 and R2 are aliphatic gps) are made by reacting a phosphite ester (R1O)3P (II) with acrolein in the presence of an alkanol R2OH (III), using 1.5 mols (II) per mol (III). Pref. (I) is hydrolysed without intermediate isolation using an acid and water to give a dialkyl-3-phosphono-propanol of formula (R1O)2POCH2CH2CHO (IV). The cpds. (IV) are solvents and useful inters. for the prepn. of plastics, fire retardant agents and dyes. Process is simpler and more efficient than prior art and gives higher yields of (I) without the formation of tarry deposits.