A practical process for the preparation of bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) 2-oxoalkylphosphonates by acylation with carboxylic esters

Abstract The preparation of bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) 2-oxoalkylphosphonates by the acylation of bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) methylphosphonate was re-investigated using esters rather than the sensitive acyl chlorides. Based on our optimization, the best results were achieved when the base (LiHMDS) was added to a solution of the phosphonate and the acylating agent at −90 °C.