Polycyclic phosphate esters and process for preparing same

Claim 2

A phosphate ester having the formula RO--(A) m (B) n ]H wherein A has the structural formula ##SPC9## and B has the structural formula ##SPC10## wherein R,R 1 and R 2 are the same or different and are linear or branched primary radicals selected from alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and haloalkyl and hydroxyalkyl having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; m and n are integers from 0 to about 4 and the sum of m plus n is from 1 to about 4.

Claim 3

The phosphate esters of claim 1 wherein R, R 1 and R 2 are the same.

Claim 4

The phosphate esters of claim 1 wherein at least R 1 and R 2 are substituted with at least one halogen atom.

Claim 5

The phosphate esters of claim 1 wherein at least R 1 and R 2 are substituted with at least one hydroxyl group.

Claim 6

The phosphate esters of claim 1 wherein R, R 1 and R 2 are each selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, 2-chloroethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl and 2,3-dibromopropyl.

Claim 7

A method for preparing the phosphate ester of claim 1 comprising: a. reacting a polycyclic compound (I) having the formula (C 5 H 8 O 4 P 2 )X u Y v , wherein X is bromine or chlorine, Y is OR 3 , wherein R 3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an haloalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, u and v are integers with values of 0, 1 or 2, and the sum of u plus v is 2; with (II) a primary alcohol of the formula HOQ, wherein Q has the meanings of R 3 or is a primary hydroxyalkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, in the presence of (III) Cl 2 ; b. the molar ratio of (II) to (I) being equal to from about (2u + v):1 to 10 (2w + v):1, said ratio not exceeding a value of 20; c. the molar ratio of (III) to (I) being from 2 to 2.2, and d. the temperature being from -20° to 80°C.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6, wherein X is bromine or chlorine, u is 2 and v is 0 and said ratio of II to I equals 4 to 20.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7, wherein said ratio of II to I equals 5 to 12.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6, where Y is OR 3 , u is 0 and v is 2, said ratio of II to I being 2 to 20.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9, wherein said ratio of II to I is equal to 2 to 7.

Claim 12

The method of claim 6, wherein said alcohol (II) is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-butanol, 2-chloroethanol, 2,3-dibromopropanol, 2-hydroxyethanol, and 3-hydroxypropanol.

Claim 13

The method of claim 7, wherein X is chlorine.

Claim 14

The method of claim 6, wherein said compound (I) has a polycyclic structure selected from the group consisting of ##SPC11## and ##SPC12## wherein the Z's may be the same or different and are selected from the same groups as X and Y.