Selective preparation of 1-substituted 2,2-difluoroethenyl phosphates or 1-hydroxyalkanephosphonates through the reaction of chlorodifluoromethyl ketones with dialkyl or diaryl phosphites

Various chlorodifluoromethyl ketones react readily with dialkyl or diaryl phosphites in the presence of triethylamine at the reflux temperature of tetrahydrofuran to give the corresponding dialkyl or diaryl 1-substituted-2,2-difluoroethenyl phosphates in good yields, whereas the similar reaction conducted at lower temperature (0-20 °C) affords 1-(chlorodifluoromethyl)-1-hydroxyalkanephosphonates almost exclusively. The latter compounds are converted to the former enol phosphates by the treatment with triethylamine or sodium methoxide in refluxing tetrahydrofuran.