Synthesis of acyclic and cyclic phosphonates based on substituted 2-hydroxybenzylic alcohols

A convenient synthesis of benzylic phosphonates and 2,3-dihydrobenzo[d][1,2]oxaphosphole 2-oxides substituted at the aromatic ring, as well as their precursors, 2-hydroxybenzylic alcohols, from the derivatives of salicylic aldehyde, salicylic acid, and 2-hydroxyacetophenone bearing an additional hydroxy or methoxy group at the para position of the aromatic ring was developed. For the first time, the possibility of selective demethylation of the methoxy group positioned ortho to the methylene phosphonate fragment with retention of the methoxy group at the para position was shown.