Abstract
Oxidation of P4 by O2 in ethyl alcohol was carried out in order to prepare HPO (OEt) 2, obtaining 43% yield. The reaction products were compared with the products obtained by the ethanolysis of P4O6 and with the products obtained by oxidation of P4 in CCl4, and the reaction mechanism was discussed.
Reaction rate was affected by temperature. The P4 was oxidized, without detectable intermediate, into P3 and reacted immediately with ethyl alcohol and turned into the products. Alcohol might act the role of suppressing further oxidation of phosphorous derivatives. As products, HPO (OH) 2, HPO (OH) (OEt), HPO (OEt) 2 and condensed phosphorous acid were detected, but no P (OEt) 3 could be detected.
