Diethyl hydrogen phosphite reaction with chlorine

Schrader prepared the ester (38) in 60% yield by reaction of sodium p-nitrophenate with diethyl chlorophosphate, using xylene as solvent for the reaction. He made it, but in lower yields, from p-nitrophenol and diethyl chlorophosphate, using, respectively, pyridine and sodium cyanide as acceptors for hydrogen chloride. Schrader also prepared it in 96% yield by nitrating diethyl phenyl phosphate at 0° C. or below. Under the conditions he used, Schrader claims that the nitro group is directed to the para position. No yield is given for the diethyl phenyl phosphate, which he presumably made from sodium phenate and diethyl chlorophosphate. Diethyl chlorophosphate may be prepared in high yield (30) from diethyl phosphite and chlorine. 

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