Studies of the hydrolysis of ethyl and tert-butyl phosphonates covalently bonded to silica xerogels

Abstract

The mild cleavage of phosphonodiester groups supported on a silica matrix has been investigated. The use of TMSBr (bromotrimethylsilane) with diethyl phosphonates has been revisited, and interactions of phosphonoacids with silicon species are described. An alternative route utilising di-tert-butyl phosphonate group has also been studied and in this case cleavage has been demonstrated in very mild conditions.