The compound can be prepared on a large scale using triethylamine as base and as solvent.[4]
Reactions
The compound forms complexes with a variety of metals. These complexes display some solubility in water but more so in methanol.[4]
The compound decomposes violently to phosphine and formaldehyde upon attempted distillation. In air, it oxidizes to the oxide.
Tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine can also be used to synthesize the heterocycle, N-Boc-3-pyrroline by ring-closing metathesis using Grubbs' catalyst (bis(tricyclohexylphosphine)benzylidineruthenium dichloride). N-Boc-diallylamine is treated with Grubbs' catalyst, followed by tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine. The carbon-carbon double bonds undergo ring closure, releasing ethene gas, resulting in N-Boc-3-pyrroline.[2]
The hydroxymethyl groups on THPC undergo replacement reactions when THPC is treated with α,β-unsaturated nitrile, acid, amide and epoxides. For example, base induces condensation between THPC and acrylamide with displacement of the hydroxymethyl groups. (Z = CONH2)
^ abFerguson, Marcelle L.; O’Leary, Daniel J.; Grubbs, Robert H. (2003). "Ring-Closing Metathesis Synthesis of N-BOC-3-Pyrroline". Organic Syntheses. 80: 85. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.080.0085{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link).
^M. Caporali, L. Gonsalvi, F. Zanobini, M. Peruzzini (2010). "Functional Ligands and Complexes". Inorganic Syntheses. Vol. 35. pp. 92–108. doi:10.1002/9780470651568.ch5. ISBN978-0-471-68255-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ abEllis, James W.; Harrison, Karl N.; Hoye, Peter A. T.; Orpen, A. Guy; Pringle, Paul G.; Smith, Martin B. (1992). "Water-Soluble Tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine Complexes with Nickel, Palladium, and Platinum. Crystal Structure of Pd[P(CH2OH)3]4.CH3OH". Inorganic Chemistry. 31 (14): 3026–3033. doi:10.1021/ic00040a009.
^Daigle, D. J.; Pepperman, A. B.; Vail, Sidney L. (1974). "Synthesis of a Monophosphorus Analog of Hexamethylenetetramine". Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry. 11 (3): 407–408. doi:10.1002/jhet.5570110326.