A Facile and Selective High Yield Synthesis of Symmetric Dialkyl-Substituted Methylenebisphosphonic Acids

Symmetric P,P′-dialkyl partial esters of methylenebisphosphonic acid were prepared in high yield and high selectivity from the corresponding acid chloride via a facile two-step, one-pot process. The newly developed synthesis, which does not require chromatographic or acid–base extractive purification, offers substantial advantages over previously used procedures.