Tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine oxide - synthesis, chemistry, and applications

Tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine oxide, (HOCH2)3PO (THPO), is recognized as an efficient flame-retardant polyol and a derivative of PH3 - an environment-friendly, halogen-free source for phosphorus compounds and polymers. Synthesis and industrial production of THPO are based on straightforward oxidation of tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine, (HOCH2)3P (THP), or neutralized tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride (THPC), or sulfate (THPS), by air/O2 or H2O2. In alkaline aqueous media, THP is oxidized by water with liberation of H2. As an alcohol, THPO readily reacts with isocyanates, epoxides, aziridines, and carboxylic acid derivatives, and is widely used as crosslinker or chain-extender to produce flame-retardant polyurethanes, polyethers, polyesters, and composite materials. Similarly, with compounds containing E-Cl bonds (E = P, Si, and S), THPO forms a variety of flame-retardant P/E-compounds or polymers. Condensation of THPO with phenols proceeds via cleavage of a P-C bond of THPO and liberation of CH2O that leads to flame-retardant THPO-phenol resins. With functionalized alkyl halides, THPO forms tris(alkoxymethyl)phosphine oxide monomers containing, for example, pendant allyl, propargyl, or silane groups. Halogenation of THPO leads to tris(chloromethyl)phosphine oxide, (ClCH2)3PO, or tris(bromomethyl)phosphine oxide, (BrCH2)3PO, useful for syntheses of multifunctional organophosphorus compounds, for example, tris(aminomethyl)phosphine oxide, (NH2CH2)3PO, and phosphorus-containing podands. Similar to THPO, tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine sulfide, (HOCH2)3PS, is used in preparation of flame-retardant components for polymers, and, in synthesis of asymmetric phosphorus compounds.