Patent ID: 7560555

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a compound of formula R 1 —Y 1 —P(NR 2 R 3 ) 2 which comprises: a) reacting a compound of formula PX 3 with a compound of formula HNR 2 R 3 in the presence of a solvent to form a compound of formula X—P(NR 2 R 3 ) 2 ; and b) reacting the compound of formula X—P(NR 2 R 3 ) 2 with a compound of formula R 1 —Y 1 —H in the presence of a solvent to form the compound of formula R 1 —Y 1 —P(NR 2 R 3 ) 2 ; wherein R 1 represents a methyl group, a group of formula —CH 2 CH 2 —Si(CH 3 ) 2 C 6 H 5 , —CH 2 CH 2 —S(O) 2 —CH 2 CH 3 or —CH 2 CH 2 —C 6 H 4 —NO 2 , a group of formula —CH 2 CH 2 CN, or a phenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 2-chlorophenyl, 2-nitrophenyl or 4-nitrophenyl group; R 2 and R 3 each independently represent an alkyl group, or R 2 and R 3 are joined, together with the N to which they are attached, to form a 5-7 membered ring; Y 1 represents O or S; and X represents a halogen; characterised in that the solvent is employed in reaction a) and reaction b) and said solvent is a hydrocarbon solvent.