Reactions of hydrazines with phosphate esters

Abstract

Phosphate esters with the general formula (RO)2P(O)OR′, with R = methyl or phenyl, and R′ = H, methyl, or phenyl, but with a maximum of two phenyls per molecule, react with hydrazines to form hydrazinium phosphates. Continued substitution of hydrazine protons by methyl groups appears to be a combination of methylation by phosphate esters and proton abstraction by part of the hydrazine present.