I want to hydrolyse a phosphonic acid ester with TMSBr.
I think this reaction works only with the addition of base. Without base, the product in my specific case is prone to deterioation due to acid sensitivity. In the literature I found, that Collidin is used here, which is the reason why I used this base as well. I used ACN as solvent. During the addition of base and than TMSBr to the educt I immediately observed the precipitation of a white solid. UPLC indicated, that at that time the product was not yet formed. I am wondering if white precipitate might indicate the presence of water due to formation of the Collidin-Br salt? Or is there any other explanation? The ACN was dried before over mol sieve.
