The yttrium(III) catalysed hydrolysis of acid phosphonate esters

Abstract

In the presence of yttrium(III) the rate of hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate in aqueous solution has been demonstrated to increase between 10⁵ and 10⁶ times. The catalytically active species of the yttrium(III) has been shown to be a polymeric hydrate which acts bifunctionally. It initially adds electrophilically to the p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate anion and subsequently nucleophilically displaces the p-nitrophenoxide by an intramolecular process.