Phase-transfer-catalyzed Michaelis-Becker synthesis of dialkyl methyl phosphonates

A liquid-liquid phase-transfer-catalyzed (PTC) Michaelis-Becker reaction was adopted in the preparation of dialkyl methyl phosphonate (R = Me, iPr nBu, and iBu). This was performed by the reaction of an appropriate dialkyl hydrogen phosphonate with methyl iodide in the presence of benzyl triethyl ammonium chloride and sodium hydroxide as PTC and base, respectively. A liquid-liquid two-phase system (H2O/CH2Cl2) introduced a suitable situation for the preparation of dialkyl methyl phosphonates with bulky alkyl groups (R = iPr, nBu, and iBu), but with R = Me, the hydrolysis of dimethyl hydrogen phosphonate (reagent) reduced the yield to 22%. In this case, a solid-liquid PTC-free system was successfully applied and yield of over 80% was obtained.