Breathing air as oxidant: Optimization of 2-chloro-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane synthesis as a precursor for phosphoryl choline derivatives and cyclic phosphate monomers

Phosphoryl choline derivatives are important compounds for drug development. Also other phosphoesters have received increased demand in recent years. Many of such compounds rely 2-chloro-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane (COP) as an intermediate. COP is available in a two-step reaction from the cyclic adduct of phosphorus chloride and ethylene glycol after oxidation. Although commercially available, in-house synthesis of COP is often required due to pricing, purity, and delivery issues. Air is a convenient and economical oxidizing agent, yet not used for synthesis of COP. While slow consumption of the P(III)-precursor 2-chloro-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane with molecular oxygen from a gas bottle, high amounts of unreacted oxygen are lavished and even may cause an explosion. Oxygen from air is a reasonable and safer alternative. Additionally, catalytic amounts of cobalt(II)chloride increase the reaction kinetics remarkably. The results presented allow a controlled and fast access to a variety of phosphoesters by optimized reaction conditions of COP and its derivatives.