Improved synthesis of 1-methoxy-3-methyl-2-phospholene oxide utilising multivariate optimization analysis

Abstract

The synthesis of 1-methoxy-3-methyl-2-phospholene oxide from 1,1,1-trichloro-3-methyl-3-phos-pholene initially gave low yields of around 25%. Attempts to optimise the yield by classic traditional methods, that is, changing only one variable at a time (OVAT) resulted in no significant improvement in the yield. Using multivariate optimization techniques, the yield was rapidly and significantly improved to around 90%. Data was also gathered on the significant variables and the important variable interactions.