Tuning the toxixity of phosphonium based biocides using the bioisosteric CH₂F moiety

Abstract

Tertiary alkyl, aryl or amino phosphines PR₃ (R = Me, nBu, C₂H₄CN, NEt₂) and the bis(phosphine) POP were allowed to react with fluoroiodomethane to produce fluoromethyl phosphonium salts. New crystal structures of forming fluoromethyl phosphonium salts [R₃PCH₂F]I with R = Me, C₂H₂CN and NEt₂ were obtained and gave additional information of the nearly unknown P-CH₂F moiety. The toxicity of the water soluble salt [Me₃PCH₂F]I was investigated compared to the biocide THPS.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Fluoromethylation
• phosphonium salts
• toxicity measurement

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.