Demonstration of prominent Cu(II)-promoted leaving group stabilization of the cleavage of a homologous set of phosphate mono-, di-, and triesters in methanol

The synthesis and decomposition kinetics of a series of phosphate mono-, di-, and triesters with a common leaving group (LG) (2'-(2-phenoxy)-1,10-phenanthroline) and their Cu(II) complexes are described. The energy in the obtained products resulting from P-O(LG) cleavage are found to be the driving force for the catalyzed reactions.