Abstract: A method of making hydroxymethylphosphonate comprising heating paraformaldehyde in a solvent to a desired reaction temperature, wherein the solvent is present in at least an amount necessary to solvate or suspend the paraformaldehyde; adding at least one alkyl phosphite to the heated paraformaldehyde, to provide hydroxymethylphosphonate, the alkyl phosphite being added to the heated paraformaldehyde at a rate which will avoid or inhibit the production of a significant exotherm and resulting high/significant level of acid by-product(s), there being present in the reaction medium at least one hindered amine catalyst in which the nitrogen in the amine is directly bound to a secondary and/or tertiary carbon of an organic group; and, optionally, following the completion of the addition, heating the reaction mixture to an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method of making hydroxymethylphosphonate comprising heating paraformaldehyde in a solvent to a desired reaction temperature, wherein the solvent is present in at least an amount necessary to solvate or suspend the paraformaldehyde; adding at least one alkyl phosphite to the heated paraformaldehyde, to provide hydroxymethylphosphonate, the alkyl phosphite being added to the heated paraformaldehyde at a rate which will avoid or inhibit the production of a significant exotherm and resulting high/significant level of acid by-product(s), there being present in the reaction medium at least one hindered amine catalyst in which the nitrogen in the amine is directly bound to a secondary and/or tertiary carbon of an organic group; and, optionally, following the completion of the addition, heating the reaction mixture to an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method of making hydroxymethylphosphonate comprising heating paraformaldehyde in a solvent to a desired reaction temperature, wherein the solvent is present in at least an amount necessary to solvate or suspend the paraformaldehyde; adding at least one alkyl phosphite to the heated paraformaldehyde, to provide hydroxymethylphosphonate, the alkyl phosphite being added to the heated paraformaldehyde at a rate which will avoid or inhibit the production of a significant exotherm and resulting high/significant level of acid by-product(s), there being present in the reaction medium at least one hindered amine catalyst in which the nitrogen in the amine is directly bound to a secondary and/or tertiary carbon of an organic group; and, optionally, following the completion of the addition, heating the reaction mixture to an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method of making hydroxymethylphosphonate comprising heating paraformaldehyde in a solvent to a desired reaction temperature, wherein the solvent is present in at least an amount necessary to solvate or suspend the paraformaldehyde; adding at least one alkyl phosphite to the heated paraformaldehyde, to provide hydroxymethylphosphonate, the alkyl phosphite being added to the heated paraformaldehyde at a rate which will avoid or inhibit the production of a significant exotherm and resulting high/significant level of acid by-product(s), there being present in the reaction medium at least one hindered amine catalyst in which the nitrogen in the amine is directly bound to a secondary and/or tertiary carbon of an organic group; and, optionally, following the completion of the addition, heating the reaction mixture to an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method of making hydroxymethylphosphonate comprising heating paraformaldehyde in a solvent to a desired reaction temperature, wherein the solvent is present in at least an amount necessary to solvate or suspend the paraformaldehyde; adding at least one alkyl phosphite to the heated paraformaldehyde, to provide hydroxymethylphosphonate, the alkyl phosphite being added to the heated paraformaldehyde at a rate which will avoid or inhibit the production of a significant exotherm and resulting high/significant level of acid by-product(s), there being present in the reaction medium at least one hindered amine catalyst in which the nitrogen in the amine is directly bound to a secondary and/or tertiary carbon of an organic group; and, optionally, following the completion of the addition, heating the reaction mixture to an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A method of making hydroxymethylphosphonate comprising heating paraformaldehyde in a solvent to a desired reaction temperature, wherein the solvent is present in at least an amount necessary to solvate or suspend the paraformaldehyde; adding at least one alkyl phosphite to the heated paraformaldehyde, to provide hydroxymethylphosphonate, the alkyl phosphite being added to the heated paraformaldehyde at a rate which will avoid or inhibit the production of a significant exotherm and resulting high/significant level of acid by-product(s), there being present in the reaction medium at least one hindered amine catalyst in which the nitrogen in the amine is directly bound to a secondary and/or tertiary carbon of an organic group; and, optionally, following the completion of the addition, heating the reaction mixture to an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A phosphate ester composition of low acidity achieved by treating the phosphate ester of high acidity with an oxetane compound. The phosphate ester can be represented by the formula (I), where Ar is an aryl or alkaryl group, R is an arylene or alkylene group, and n can range from to 0 to about 5.

Abstract: Neopentyl glycol bis(diphenyl phosphate) liquid compositions are described that comprise from about 75% to about 90%, by weight, of neopentyl glycol bis(diphenyl phosphate), less than about 5% by weight of cyclic product, less than about 8% by weight of triphenyl phosphate, and with a P3 content of no less than about 1%, by weight. These compositions are made by continuously adding neopentyl glycol to a diaryl chlorophosphate mixture at elevated temperature, under vacuum, and in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: Alkylene-bridged diphosphate compounds can be used to modify, namely, reduce, the viscosity of fluid flame retardants (polybrominated aryl oxides, oligomeric phosphate esters, etc.) which are useful in flame retarding polyurethane and thermoplastic compositions.

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of a hydrocarbyl bis(dihydrocarbyl phosphate), such as a hydrocarbyl bis(diaryl phosphate), comprises the reaction of an unstable hydrocarbyl-containing diol, such as an aromatic group-containing diol, with a dihydrocarbyl halophosphate, such as diphenyl chlorophosphate, in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst, such as magnesium dichloride, in the additional presence of an effective amount (e.g., up to about 100% by weight of diol and halophosphate) of a liquid hydrocarbon, such as an aliphatic hydrocarbon, like heptane, or an aromatic hydrocarbon, such as toluene, to enhance the removal of hydrogen halide by-product and thereby increase the yield of hydrocarbyl bis(dihydrocarbyl phosphate).

Abstract: The present invention is a process for forming monohydroxy-terminated aromatic oligomeric phosphates by the reaction of a diaryl halophosphate, such as diphenyl chlorophosphate, optionally in the presence of some monoaryl dihalophosphate, with an aromatic diol, such as resorcinol, to form the monohydroxy-terminated aromatic oligomeric phosphate. The reaction preferably employs a Lewis acid catalyst, such as magnesium dichloride.

Abstract: A process for forming a composition containing over, for example, about 90% by weight of an alkylene-arylene bridging group-containing bis(diphenyl phosphate) compound and less than, for example, 10%, by weight, of monophosphate by-product. This process involves the reaction of a composition containing a diphenyl halophosphate and an alkylene-arylene bridging group-containing diol, in the presence of a catalytic amount of a Lewis acid catalyst, utilizing a means, during the course of the reaction, for removal of hydrohalide by-product. The preferred means that are used for removal of hydrohalide by-product include:performing the reaction in a hydrocarbon solvent;utilizing vacuum to remove such by-product;utilizing sparging with an inert gas; andcompatible combinations of one or more of the foregoing means.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for forming monohydroxy-terminated aromatic oligomeric phosphates by the reaction of a diaryl halophosphate, such as diphenyl chlorophosphate, optionally in the presence of some monoaryl dihalophosphate, with an aromatic diol, such as resorcinol, to form the monohydroxy-terminated aromatic oligomeric phosphate. The reaction preferably employs a Lewis acid catalyst, such as magnesium dichloride.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for forming hydroxy-terminated aromatic oligomeric phosphates by the initial reaction of a monoaryl dihalophosphate, such as monophenyl dichlorophosphate, with an aromatic diol, such as resorcinol, to form a halo-terminated aromatic oligomeric phosphate and the subsequent reaction of that halo-terminated phosphate with aromatic diol to form the hydroxy-terminated aromatic oligomeric phosphate. The initial and subsequent reactions preferably employ a Lewis acid catalyst, such as magnesium dichloride.

Abstract: Hydrocarbyl bisphosphate compounds containing hindered aryl substituents in the phosphate groups can be formed by: (a) reacting a hindered phenol, e.g., xylenol, with a phosphorus oxytrihalide, e.g., phosphorus oxytrichloride, to form a reaction product mixture; and (b) combining the reaction product, without distillation of the product from the reaction product mixture, from (a) mixture with a hydrocarbyl diol, e.g., one containing a phenyl ring such as hydroquinone or resorcinol.