Electrochemical synthesis of phosphorus esters from white phosphorus in the presence of copper complexes and ethanol

Abstract

In the presence of white phosphorus the redox potentials of the copper ions change and the potential of the reduction wave of CuI/Cu0 shifts noticeably toward more positive values. The CuI—P4 complex is characterized by a lower value of the electrochemical gap, that is, higher polarizability and reactivity compared to those of the free CuI cation. Phosphorus esters can be synthesized from P4 and ethanol. The latter is in the composition of the copper(ii) complexes, which act as a catalyst-charge mediator.