Method for preparing cyanophosphonate derivatives from pyrophosphate o r polyphosphate esters and cyanide

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Phosphorus-containing compounds such as cyanophosphonate derivatives are important precursors for the synthesis of organophosphorus compounds which , have numerous applications, for example in herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers flame retardants and plasticizers. Cyanophosphonate derivatives can be further converted to aminomethylphosphonate derivatives which have , been particularly important precursors in the synthesis of Nphosphonomethyglycine, a highly effective commercial herbicide (available under the trade name Roundup) useful for the control of a large variety of weeds. The syntheses of such organophosphorus compounds have commonly used a hologen derivative of phosphorus as a …