31P NMR kinetic study of the tandem cleavage of phosphonate esters by bromotrimethylsilane

1H and 31P NMR methods have been used to access rate constants and activation parameters for each of the consecutive second-order silylation reactions involved in the overall transformation (1a→3a→4a), while computational optimisation of the rate constants obtained from the initial, linear phase of each reaction has permitted an excellent fit with the experimental data for the entire course of the reaction.