The Synthesis of Dialkyl α-Halogenated Methylphosphonates

This article reviews the main synthetic approaches to mono-, di- and trihalogenated methylphosphonates containing fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. It includes some general, widely used methods, such as the Michaelis-Arbuzov, Michaelis-Becker, Kinnear-Perren and Kabachnik reactions, as well as more specific approaches such as oxidative or reductive procedures. Representative experimental procedures are described for each type of compound.