A Selective and Mild Synthetic Route to Dialkyl Phosphates

A very mild synthetic route to dialkyl phosphates is described. Reaction of the appropriate alcohol with PCl3 followed by treatment with pyridine and CCl4 afforded the corresponding trichloromethyl ester. Subsequent reaction with the triethylamine salt of acetic acid followed by hydrolysis of the formed mixed anhydride under very mild conditions afforded the dialkyl phosphates in high yield.