Exploration of chiral Lewis acid Mg2+ catalysts in the synthesis of aryl organophosphate triesters from phosphorus oxychloride through a three-step,two-pot substitution sequence

A variety of nucleophilic and Lewis acid catalysts were examined for use in promoting the synthesis of organophosphate triesters. Eight novel organophosphate triesters are reported here for the first time. MgSO₄ was discovered as an inexpensive catalyst capable of improving the synthesis of a variety of aryl organophosphate triesters from the readily available and low cost precursor phosphorus oxychloride in a three-step, two-pot sequence. Yields for this method improve upon the uncatalyzed method by 8–36%. Several chiral catalysts were tested, but none were able to induce enantioselectivity in the reaction.