Preparative synthesis and structure of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propyl and 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butyl phosphites

Conditions were found for selective hydrolysis of bicyclic phosphites derived from 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1-propanol and 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1-butanol to the corresponding dihydrogen phosphites. The latter were isolated as potassium, sodium. and ammonium salts and were characterized by the H-1, C-13, and P-31 NMR spectra. The structure of the ammonium salt was proved by X-ray analysis.