Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Arbuzov reaction (Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction): A reaction between a trialkylphosphite and an alkyl halide to produce a phosphonate. The reaction mechanism involves a pair of SN2 steps.

(CH3CH2O)3P
+
CH3I


+
CH3CH2I
Triethylphosphite
Methyl iodide
Diethyl methylphosphonate
Ethyl iodide

In this Arbuzov reaction, triethylphosphite is reacted with methyl iodide to produce diethyl methylphosphonate and ethyl iodide.