SYNTHESIS OF BIS(ACYL)PHOSPHINES BY ACTIVATION OF UNREACTIVE METAL PHOSPHIDES

The present invention refers to a process for the preparation of a mono(acyl)phosphine of the general formula I and/or a bis(acyl)phosphine of the general formula II, wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 are the same or different and are independently selected from H, halogen, linear or branched C 1 -C 20 -alkyl, linear or branched C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, C 1 -C 8 -alkoxy, C 2 -C 8 -alkenyloxy, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 6 -C 12 -aryl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkoxy, C 7 -C 12 -arylalkoxy, C 9 -C 15 -alkenylarylalkoxy, nitro-, C 6 -C 12 -arylsulfonyl, 4-alkylarylsulfonyl, C 1 -C 20 -alkylcarboxy, C 1 -C 8 -alkoxycarbonyl, SR 14 , NHR 14 or NR 14 R 15 with R 14 and R 15 being independently selected from H, linear or branched C 1 -C 20 -alkyl, linear or branched C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl and C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, and an O-, S- or N-containing 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring; R 6 is H or R 6 is replaced by an alkaline earth metal cation or a mixed alkali metal/alkaline earth metal cation; wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 and R 11 are the same or different and are independently selected from H, halogen, linear or branched C 1 -C 20 -alkyl, linear or branched C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl, C 1 -C 8 -alkoxy, C 2 -C 8 -alkenyloxy, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 6 -C 12 -aryl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkoxy, C 7 -C 12 -arylalkoxy, C 9 -C 15 -alkenylarylalkoxy, nitro-, C 6 -C 12 -arylsulfonyl, 4-alkylarylsulfonyl, C 1 -C 20 -alkylcarboxy, C 1 -C 8 -alkoxycarbonyl, SR 14 , NHR 14 or NR 14 R 15 with R 14 and R 15 being independently selected from H, linear or branched C 1 -C 20 -alkyl, linear or branched C 2 -C 8 -alkenyl and C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, and an O-, S- or N-containing 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring; as well as the mono(acyl)phosphine and/or bis(acyl)phosphine obtained by the process.