Synthesis and herbicidal activities of methyl-1-(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetoxy)alkylphosphonate monosalts

A series of 1-(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetoxy)alkylphosphonic acid dimethyl esters 5 and its corresponding phosphonate monosalts 6 were synthesized as potential herbicide. The phosphonate monosalts can be prepared from 1-(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetoxy)alkylphosphonic acid dimethyl esters 5, which were synthesized by the condensation of O,O-dimethyl-1-hydroxyalkylphosphonates with dichlorophenoxyacetic chloride. This method provides a simple and efficient procedure for the synthesis of phosphonate derivatives containing sensitive groups to acid, base or water such as carboxylate ester bond; and the herbicidal activity of title compounds was evaluated in a set of experiments in greenhouse. Most of the compounds exhibited notable herbicidal activity.