Phosphorochloridate
# Phosphorochloridate

In chemistry, a phosphorochloridate is a class of organophosphorus compounds with the formula $(RO)_2P(O)Cl$ (R = organic substituent). They are tetrahedral in shape, akin to regular phosphates $(OP(OR)_3).$ They are usually colorless and sensitive toward hydrolysis. They are oxidized derivatives of phosphorochloridites, which have the formula $(RO)_2PCl.$ A popular example is diethyl phosphorochloridate.

## Synthesis and reactions

Phosphochloridites are precursors to phosphate esters:

    $(RO)_2P(O)Cl$ + R'OH → $(R'O)(RO)_2P(O)$ + HCl

Other nucleophiles have been employed, such as azide.

