Hexamethylphosphorous triamide is used as a reagent in organic synthesis as a phosphorylating agent. It is associated with carbon tetrachloride for the substitution of hydroxy groups with chlorides. It is involved in the preparation of epoxides and arene oxides from aldehydes and aryldialdehdyes respectively. It is used in the preparation of carbonates as well as reduction of ozonides.
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Applications
Hexamethylphosphorous triamide is used as a reagent in organic synthesis as a phosphorylating agent. It is associated with carbon tetrachloride for the substitution of hydroxy groups with chlorides. It is involved in the preparation of epoxides and arene oxides from aldehydes and aryldialdehdyes respectively. It is used in the preparation of carbonates as well as reduction of ozonides.
Solubility
Miscible with water.
Notes
Air and moisture sensitive. Keep the container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.
RUO – Research Use Only
Reduces aromatic aldehydes to symmetrical epoxides in good yield: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 85, 1884 (1963). Both cis- and trans-isomers are formed. For list of examples, see: Org. Synth. Coll., 5, 358 (1973). Under suitable conditions, reaction of the intermediate with a second aldehyde can lead to mixed deoxybenzoins or diaryl enamines: Synthesis, 225 (1991).
Has also been used for a variety of other reductions including that of ozonolysis intermediates: Helv. Chim. Acta, 50, 2387 (1967), and of primary alkyl nitro compounds to nitriles: Synthesis, 36 (1979). Bromohydrins can be converted to alkenes, by reductive elimination from their triflate esters: J. Am. Chem. Soc., 102, 1433 (1980):
Reacts with BrCCl3 to give dichloromethylenephosphorane Cl2C=PPh3, which undergoes Wittig reaction with aldehydes to give 1,1-dichloroalkenes, giving better results than the CCl4/PPh3 combination: Tetrahedron Lett., 1237, 1239 (1977); Synthesis, 554 (1980). Similarly, with Br2CF2, the CF2 group can be transferred to both aldehydes and ketones: J. Fluorine Chem., 1, 123 (1971); Synth. Commun., 3, 197 (1973).
Ioannou, P. V.; Tsivgoulis, G. M. The reduction of p-arsanilic acid (p-aminophenylarsonic acid) to its arsonous acid or arsine oxide: A case study. Main Group Chem. 2015, 14 (3), 237-253.
Bhat, C.; Kumar, A. Synthesis of Allokainic Acid: A Review. Asian J. Org. Chem. 2015, 4 (2), 102-115.