Reaction of perfluoroalkyl grignard reagents with phosphorus trihalides: a new route to perfluoroalkyl-phosphonous and -phosphonic acids.

The reaction of perfluoroalkyl Grignard reagents with phosphorus(III) halides was explored. In the process a new convenient, one-pot, high yield method for the synthesis of (perfluoroalkyl)phosphonic acids has been developed. Perfluoroalkyl Grignard reagents react with phosphorus trichloride or phosphorus tribromide to form (perfluoroalkyl)phosphonous dihalides. Hydrolysis gives the corresponding (perfluoroalkyl)phosphonous acids. Oxidation of the phosphonous acids with H(2)O(2) produces (perfluoroalkyl)phosphonic acids in 60-78% overall yields, based on the corresponding perfluoroalkyl iodide. The X-ray crystal structures of the toluidinium salts, [MeC(6)H(4)NH(3)](2)[C(2)F(5)PO(3)] and [MeC(6)H(4)NH(3)][C(8)F(17)P(O)(2)OH], are reported.