Phosphorus(V) oxide is used as a drying and dehydrating agent, a condensation reagent in organic synthesis and a laboratory reagent. It is also used in sugar refining and in fire extinguishing. Phosphorus pentoxide in DMSO forms an Onodera reagent which oxidizes alcohols. It is capable of converting mineral acids to anhydrides.
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Applications
Phosphorus(V) oxide is used as a drying and dehydrating agent, a condensation reagent in organic synthesis and a laboratory reagent. It is also used in sugar refining and in fire extinguishing. Phosphorus pentoxide in DMSO forms an Onodera reagent which oxidizes alcohols. It is capable of converting mineral acids to anhydrides.
Solubility
Soluble in sulfuric acid. Insoluble in acetone and ammonia. Decomposes in water.
Notes
It is highly hygroscopic in nature and gets hydrolyzed to phosphoric acid. It is stored in a separate safety cabinet away from incompatibles such as alkalis and water.
RUO – Research Use Only
Silylates primary and sec-alcohols and phenols, in the presence of p-TsOH as catalyst. If the substrate contains acid-sensitive groups, PPTS can be used: Tetrahedron Lett., 4261 (1978). See Appendix 4.
In the presence of FeCl3, reacts with benzotrichlorides to give substituted benzoyl chlorides in good yields: J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 808 (1977).
Reacts with P2O5 to give trimethylsilyl polyphosphate (’PPSE’), a milder and more convenient dehydrating agent then polyphosphoric acid. For examples, and related reagents, see Phosphorus(V) oxide, A13348.
Meier, M. S. Phosphorus(V) Oxide. In Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis; Pacquette, L., Ed.; J. Wiley & Sons, New York, 2004.
Ebadi, M.; Mirdamadian, Z.; Ghanbari, D.; Moradi, L. The Effect of Aminated Carbon Nanotube and Phosphorus Pentoxide on the Thermal Stability and Flame Retardant Properties of the Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene. J. Cluster Sci. 2014, 25 (2), 541-548.