New route to amino[2H2]methylphosphonic acid via bis(trifluoroethyl) phosphonate transesterification

Abstract

Transesterification of bis(trifluoroethyl) chloromethyl- and azidomethyl-phosphonates with alcohols in the presence of catalytic quantities of alcoholates gives dialkyl chloromethyl- and azidomethyl-phosphonates in good yield. This process has been used for the synthesis of dibenzyl azido[²H₂]methylphosphonate which has been reduced and hydrogenolised to amino[²H₂]methylphosphonic acid under neutral conditions.