Trimethyl and triethyl phosphites react with diphenoquinone 3, yielding 4, 4′- dihydroxydiphenyl 10; 4′-alkoxy-4-biphenylyl dialkyl phosphates 5, 4, 4′-biphenylylene tetraalkyl bis (phosphates), 6, and 4′-hydroxy-4-biphenylyl dialkyl phosphates 9 are also isolated in minor yields. The effect of temperature on the reaction is studied. A mechanism for the reaction is presented which accounts for the experimental results. The reaction of ...