Abstract
White phosphorus has been catalytically oxidized by oxygen in alcoholic solutions of copper (II) acetylacetonate, halides or carboxylates to yield dialkyl phosphites and trialkyl phosphates under mild reaction conditions. Trialkyl phosphite has been observed as unstable organophosphorus intermediate, which is being converted into the main reaction products. In the case of methanolic solutions, the derivatives of two step acidolysis of dimethyl phosphite, monomethyl phosphite and phosphorous acid, have been additionally detected among the reaction products. The influence of the copper (II) catalysts on the kinetics of accumulation and transmutation of organophosphorus products has been explored. It has been found that the Cu(II) compounds take a role of catalysts-electron-carriers from white phosphorus to oxygen. The indispensable molar ratio between catalyst and white phosphorus and the order of catalytic activity for the copper (II) compounds have been established. The major steps of the catalytic reaction including (i) the coordination of white phosphorus and alcohol to metal ion, (ii) the redox decomposition of this intermediate complex accompanied by reducing elimination of elementary copper and formation of organophosphorus product and (iii) the oxidation of the reduced form of catalyst by oxygen have been also suggested.