Direct and Reversible Esterification of a Phosphonic Acid under Ambient Conditions through a Dissociative Mechanism

Abstract We report the synthesis of 1-dimethylaminonaphthyl-8-phosphonic acid, which, in contrast with typical phosphonic acids, undergoes spontaneous condensation with alcohols to give monoesters under ambient conditions. The selectivity and reversibility of the reaction suggest that it occurs through a dissociative mechanism, inaccessible to typical phosphonic acids.