MW-assisted hydrolysis of phosphinates in the presence of PTSA as the catalyst, and as a MW absorber

Abstract

Abstract The hydrolysis of phosphinic esters is an important transformation that may be performed under acidic or basic conditions on conventional heating. A series of cyclic phosphinates, 1-alkoxy-3-methyl or 3,4-dimethylphospholane oxides, has now been hydrolyzed under microwave (MW) conditions in the presence of 0.1 or 0.5 equivalents of p-toluenesulfonic acid that served not only as the catalyst but also as a MW absorber. The later phenomenon was proved separately. The pseudo-first-order rate constants for the hydrolyses performed by the new approach were determined and a reactivity order was setup. The model reactions investigated were transplanted into flow MW accomplishment.