Triethyl orthophosphate

Properties Water-white to amber liquid depending on purity hygroscopic. D 1.20, refr index 1.420, bp (pure compound) 135-138C (1 mm Hg). Miscible with water and all organic solvents except aliphatic hydrocarbons hydrolyzed in water with formation of mono-, di-, and triethyl orthophosphates water solutions attack metals commercial material contains 40% TEPP. 

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES stable under ordinary conditions of use and storage hazardous polymerization will not occur hydrolyzes quickly in water with formation of mono-, di-, and triethyl orthophosphate will attack some forms of plastics, rubber, and coatings temperatures ranging from 170-213°C (338-415°F) cause thermal decomposition with formation of ethylene FP (NA) LFL/UFL (NA) AT (unknown in literature). 

The above is a general procedure for preparing trialkyl orthophosphates. Similar yields are obtained for trimethyl phosphate, b.p. 62°/5 mm. triethyl phosphate, b.p. 75-5°/5 mm. tri-n-propyl phosphate, b.p. 107-5°/5 mm. tri-Mo-propyl phosphate, b.p. 83-5°/5 mm. tri-wo-butyl phosphate, b.p. 117°/5-5 mm. and tri- -amyl phosphate, b.p. 167-5°/5 mm. The alkyl phosphates are excellent alkylating agents for primary aromatic amines (see Section IV,41) they can also be ua for alkylating phenols (compare Sections IV,104-105). Trimethyl phosphate also finds application as a methylating agent for aliphatie alcohols (compare Section 111,58). 

Phosphates. Insoluble orthophosphates may be precipitated with phosphate ion derived from trimethyl or triethyl phosphate by stepwise hydrolysis. Thus 1.8M sulphuric acid containing zirconyl ions and trimethyl phosphate on... 

Fig. 9. Effect of salt on > P chemical shift of (A) triethyl phosphate, (B) diethyl phosphate, (Q monoethyl phosphate, and (D) orthophosphate. —, Represents added tetramethylammonium chloride —, represents added sodium chloride. From Costello et al. (1976). Copyright 1976 American Chemical Society.

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