Hydroxyalkylphosphines and Hydroxyalkylphosphine Oxides

The paper discusses the condensation of phosphine and of primary and secondary phosphines with aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and ketones, the reaction mechanisms, and the influence of the structure of the starting materials on the final products.
A detailed account is given of the chemical properties of the hydroxymethylphosphonium halides and of hydroxymethyl-phosphines and -phosphine oxides. Particular attention is paid to the reactions of tervalent phosphorus – oxidation, addition of sulphur, formation of quaternary phosphonium compounds with alkyl halides, alkene oxides, aldehydes, unsaturated acids, and other compounds – and also reactions at the labile hydrogen atom of the hydroxymethyl groups in hydroxymethylphosphines.
Information is given on methods for preparing organophosphorus polymers from tetrakishydroxymethylphosphonium chloride and its derivatives by the processes of polytransesterification, alcoholysis, phenolysis, and polycondensation with nitrogen-containing compounds. Problems of the practical application of the products are examined. The bibliography contains 162 references.