Ionic liquids such as 1,3-dialkylimidazolium salts make excellent catalysts and solvents for synthesis of dialkyl 2-(dialkoxyphosphoryl)-3-(1-oxo-1-H-phthalazin-2-yl)succinates from 2H-phthalazin-1-one, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and trialkyl phosphites. Under similar conditions, triphenyl phosphite led to dialkyl 2-(diphenoxyphosphoryl)-3-(1-oxo-1-H-phthalazin-2-yl)succinates. The ionic liquid was readily recycled and can be reused four times without significant loss of activity or mass.
