Synthesis of New Benzylic Di-, Tri-, and Tetraphosphonic Acids as Potential Chelating Agents

Abstract New di-, tri-, and tetraphosphonic acids were synthesized starting from four o-hydroxymethyl phenol derivatives and obtained in three steps in good overall yield. The phosphonic acids were isolated and purified using semi-preparative C18 HPLC column. The new compounds were characterized using different spectroscopic methods (1H, 13C, and 31P NMR; ESI MS; and MSn, IR). GRAPHICAL ABSTRAC