Abstract: A process for converting organic hydroxyl-containing compounds to halides which comprises reacting the hydroxyl-containing compound with a phosphorushalide reagent of formula: R.sub.n PX.sub.5-n wherein n is selected from 1, 2 and 3; R is selected from the group consisting of C-6 to C-10 aryl and substituted aryl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain alkyl, alkoxy, and haloalkyl, halogen, sulfonate and mixtures thereof; and X is a halogen. It is preferred to carry out the reaction in the presence of an arylphosphorusoxydihalide solvent. The use of an arylphosphorustetrahalide and particularly phenylphosphorustetrachloride is preferred. The arylphoshorustetrahalide can be prepared in situ by contacting a solution of the corresponding arylphosphorusdihalide in an arylphosphorusoxydihalide solvent with a halogen. The process can further comprise the step of heating the reaction mixture. Maintaining a reaction temperature of from about 0.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for selectively substituting an aromatic nitro group with a halo group which comprises contacting the nitroaromatic compound with a phosphorushalide of formula: R.sub.n PX.sub.5-n wherein n is selected from 0, 1, 2 and 3; R is selected from the group consisting of C-6 to C-10 aryl and substituted aryl wherein the substituents are selected from the group consisting of: straight and branched chain alkyl, alkoxy, and haloalkyl; halogen, sulfonate and mixtures thereof; and X is a halogen in the presence of an arylphosphorusoxydihalide solvent. The use of an arylphosphorustetrahalide and particularly phenylphosphorustetrachloride is preferred. The arylphosphorustetrahalide can be prepared in situ by contacting a solution of the corresponding arylphosphorusdihalide in an arylphosphorusoxydihalide solvent with a halogen. The process can further comprise the step of heating the reaction mixture to maintain a temperature of from about 100.degree. C. to about 175.degree. C.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing a phosphorus complex of the formula:RP.sym.Cl.sub.3.P.crclbar.Cl.sub.6wherein R is selected from the group consisting of: aryl; substituted aryl, wherein the substituent can comprise at least one member selected from the group consisting of nitro, chloro, fluoro, alkyl, fluoro-alkyl, alkoxy and mixtures thereof; alkyl and substituted alkyl by the reaction of phosphorus pentachloride and a phosphonic dichloride of the formula:RPOCl.sub.2wherein R is defined as above, wherein the improvement comprises: reacting the phosphorus pentachloride and the phsophonic dichloride in the presence of an inert solvent capable of co-distilling a phosphorus oxychloride reaction product, for example, chlorobenzene, and co-distilling said phosphorus oxychloride reaction product during the reaction of the phosphorus pentachloride and the phosphonic dichloride. The inert solvent can boil at a temperature ranging from about 120.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for preparing alkyldiarylphosphines and related compounds. Typically, diphenylphosphinous chloride is reacted in solution with an excess of an alkali metal; and the reaction product reacted with chlorohexane thereby forming hexyldiphenylphosphine. The improved process obtains greater yields, by use of critical amounts of alkali metal; use of a single reactor rather than two reactors; preinitiation of the first stage reaction; reduction of temperatures to increase reaction rate under certain conditions; and preferred reactants and physical form thereof. Novel products include behenyldiphenylphosphine.