Study of the initial stages of alkoxo synthesis involving Ti(OBu)4and cyclophosphites

The reactivities of cyclophosphite precursors in alkoxo syntheses involving titanium(iv) tetra(n-butoxide) were studied by 31P NMR and IR spectroscopy. 2-Diethylamido-4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinane and 4-ethyl-2,6,7-trioxaphosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octane in benzene are inert toward Ti(OBu)4. Gelation is accompanied by hydrolysis 2-diethylamido-4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinane to give the corresponding hydrophosphoryl compound, while 4-ethyl-2,6,7-trioxaphosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octane remains intact during gelation.