Abstract: Method for producing tertiary phosphines by reacting a compound of the general formula (I) in which A is R1 or L2, B is R2 or L3, the R1 and R2 radicals are each independently an organic radical having in each case from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, where the R1 and R2 radicals may also be joined together; and the leaving groups L1 to L3 are each independently halogen, alkyloxy having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or aryloxy having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms (a) with an alkali metal in an organic aprotic solvent and (b) a compound of the general formula (II) L4-R3 ??(II) in which the R3 radical is an organic radical having in each case from 1 to 30 carbon atoms; and the leaving group L4 is halogen, alkyloxy having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or aryloxy having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, in which the resulting reaction mixture is hydrolyzed with an aqueous base which has a pH of ?10 and the organic phase is removed from the aqueous phase.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of acylphosphines formula (1) wherein m is 1 or 2; R1, R2, and R3 are organic residues derived from aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons; by (1) reacting organic phosphorus halides of formula (II) wherein Y is Br or Cl,with an alkali metal in a solvent in the presence of an activator, wherein the alkali metal is present in the form of a dispersion of alkali metal particles having a mean particle size of ?500 ?m in the solvent, (2) subsequent reaction with acid halides of formula (III) which process is carried out without isolation of the intermediates. Preferably, R1, R2 and R3 are independently from each other phenyl, naphthyl and bi-phenyl, being unsubstituted or substituted by one to five halogen, C1-C8 alky and/or C1-C8 alkoxy. Most preferably, R1 and R3 are phenyl and R2 is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl. The alkali metal is preferably sodium, the activator is preferably chlorobenzene and/or n-butanol.