Trialkyl phosphites tributyl phosphite

The reduction of benzofuroxans can lead to a variety of products, depending upon the conditions. Deoxygenation to benzofurazans (40) can be effected either directly, using trialkyl phosphites, -tributyl or triphenyl - phosphine, or indirectly, via o-quinone dioximes (41), using methanol and potassium hydroxide, or hydroxyl-amine and alkali. - - The dioximes may be isolated, but... 

A valuable route to benzofurazans is provided by deoxygenation of the corresponding benzofuroxan. This may be accomplished either directly using trialkyl phosphites, tributyl-or triphe nyl-phosphine, or indirectly via the quinone dioxime using, for example, methanol and potassium hydroxide, hydroxylamine and alkali, sodium azide in DMSO or ethylene glycol, sodium borohydride, and occasionally thermolysis alone. More detailed discussion of these reactions is included in Section 4.22.3.2.4. 

Many trivaient phosphorus compounds, trialkyl phosphites and trialkyl phosphorotrithioite exhibit fungicidal properties, mainly because of their considerable reducing effect and high reactivity (Nishizawa et al., 1959). These compounds are also very phytotoxic, and are therefore used mainly as defoliants, for example, merphos and tributyl phosphorotrithioite. 

By phosphites and phosphines. Triethyl phosphite76 and triethyl-,18 tributyl-,38 and triphenylphosphines1 18 have been reacted with a number of episulfides to yield practically quantitative amounts of triethyl thionophosphate and trialkyl- or triiirvl phosphine sulfides, respectively, and the olefin resulting from desulfurization of the episulfide (Eqe. 54 and 55). 

---