Phosphinous acids
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Phosphinous acids are usually organophosphorus compounds with the formula R2POH. They are pyramidal in structure. Phosphorus is in the oxidation state III. Most phosphinous acids rapidly convert to the corresponding phosphine oxide, which is tetrahedral and is assigned oxidation state V.
Only one example is known, bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphinous acid, (CF3)2POH.[1] It is prepared in several steps from phosphorus trichloride (Et = ethyl):[2]
- PCl3 + 2 Et2NH → PCl2NEt2 + Et2NH2Cl
- 2 P(NEt2)3 + PCl2NEt2 + 2 CF3Br → P(CF3)2NEt2 + 2 BrClP(NEt2)3
- P(CF3)2NEt2 + H2O → P(CF3)2OH + HNEt2
2POH.png)
