New phosphate and phosphonate esters having surface active properties

摘要

The invention comprises surface-active compounds having the general formula wherein R1 is a C1-C3 alkyl or alkoxy radical, R11 is a C1-C3 alkyl radical and R is an alkyl or alkenyl radical having from 12 to 18 carbon atoms. They may be obtained by reacting a compound of the general formula where R1 and R11 are as defined above and R111 is a C1-C3 alkyl radical with at least one compound of the general formula RX where R is as defined above and X is a bromide, iodide or acetate radical for 10 to 50 hours at a temperature between 160 DEG and 250 DEG C. and which is sufficient to initiate the reaction and at a pressure sufficient to maintain the reactants in substantially liquid state. In the reaction by-products having the general formula R111X and R11X are also obtained. The molar ratio of the phosphorus ester reactant to the alkylating agent is preferably at least 1 : 1 and the preferred alkylating agent is an alkyl bromide. Examples are given for the production of methyl dodecyl (and hexadecyl) methyl phosphonates, ethyl dodecyl (and hexadecyl) ethyl phosphonates, diamethyl dodecyl phosphate, diethyl dodecyl phosphate and dimethyl hexadecyl phosphate. The following are also formed as by-products in the examples: didodecyl methyl (and ethyl) phosphonates, methyl (and ethyl) didodecyl phosphates and methyl dihexadecyl phosphate.