Sodium dialkyl phosphite reacts with non-activated alkyl halide in the presence of crown ether to give dialkyl alkyl phosphonate in moderate yield. Little or no reaction takes place in the absence of crown ether under the same conditions. In all cases, crown ether was present in catalytic amts. indicating that it behaves as a phase transfer catalyst between solid and liquid phases. The influences of structures of crown ethers, alkyl halides, dialkyl phosphites and the nature of solvent on the P-alkylation of sodium dialkyl phosphite have been investigated.

Key words: SODIUM COMPOUNDS, CATALYSIS, ORGANO PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS, CROWN ETHER COMPOUNDS, ALKYLATION, PHASE TRANSFER CATALYSIS, PHOSPHOROUS ACID ESTER