Patent ID: 7214830

Claim:
A process for the preparation of acyl phosphines of formula I n and m are each independently of the other 1 or 2; R 1 , if n=1, is C 1 –C 18 alkyl, C 2 –C 18 alkyl which is interrupted by one or several non-successive O atoms; phenyl-substituted C 1 –C 4 alkyl, C 2 –C 8 alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, C 5 –C 12 cycloalkyl or a 5- or 6-membered O—, S— or N-containing heterocyclic ring, the radicals phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, C 5 –C 12 cycloalkyl or the 5- or 6-membered O—, S— or N-containing heterocyclic ring being unsubstituted or substituted by one to five halogen, C 1 –C 8 alkyl, C 1 –C 8 alkylthio and/or C 1 –C 8 alkoxy; R 1 , if n=2, is C 1 –C 18 alkylene, C 2 –C 18 alkylene which is interrupted by one or several non-successive O atoms; or R 1 is C 1 –C 6 alkylene which is substituted by C 1 –C 4 alkoxy, phenyl, C 1 –C 4 alkylphenyl, phenyl-C 1 –C 4 alkyl or C 1 –C 4 alkoxyphenyl; or R 1 is phenylene or xylylene, which radicals are unsubstituted or substituted by one to three C 1 –C 4 alkyl and/or C 1 –C 4 alkoxy, or R 1 is a R 2 is C 1 –C 18 alkyl, C 3 –C 12 cycloalkyl, C 2 –C 18 alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl or a 5- or 6-membered O—, S— or N-containing heterocyclic ring, the radicals phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl or 5- or 6-membered O—, S— or N-containing heterocyclic ring being unsubstituted or substituted by one to four C 1 –C 8 alkyl, C 1 –C 8 alkoxy, C 1 –C 8 alkylthio and/or halogen; R 3 is C 1 –C 18 alkyl, C 2 –C 18 alkyl which is interrupted by one or several non-successive O atoms; phenyl-substituted C 1 –C 4 alkyl, C 2 –C 8 alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, C 5 –C 12 cycloalkyl or a 5- or 6-membered O—, S— or N-containing heterocyclic ring, the radicals phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, C 5 –C 12 cycloalkyl or the 5- or 6-membered O—, S— or N-containing heterocyclic ring being unsubstituted or substituted by one to five halogen, C 1 –C 8 alkyl, C 1 –C 8 alkylthio and/or C 1 –C 8 alkoxy; Q is a single bond, CR 6 R 7 , —O— or —S—; R 4 and R 5 are each independently of the other hydrogen, C 1 –C 4 alkyl or C 1 –C 4 alkoxy; R 6 and R 7 are each independently of the other hydrogen or C 1 –C 4 alkyl; by (1) reacting organic phosphorus halides of formula II wherein R 1 , R 3 , n and m have the meaning cited above, and Y is Br or Cl, with an alkali metal or with magnesium in combination with lithium, or with mixtures thereof, optionally in the presence of a catalyst, and (2) subsequent reaction with m acid equivalents of halides of formula III wherein R 2 , Y and m have the meaning cited above; which process is carried out without isolation of the intermediates.