The mechanism of the alcoholysis of chlorophosphonates and chlorophosphates in the presence of nucleophilic catalysts like hexamethylphosphotriamide, pyridine and N- methylimidazole is discussed on the basis of kinetic and stereochemical results. We have proposed a mechanism for the reaction, which is governed by entropy, involving reaction of the alcohol with a pentacoordinated intermediate. This accounts for the differences in the ...
