P O OR 56 °C P O OH K 2 CO 3 acetone RX R 1 R 2 Me Me H H = Cl Cl Me R 1 R 2 Cl , R = n Bu, n Pr, i Pr, EtAbstract 1-alkoxy-1,2-dihydrophosphinine oxides 4 may be prepared by the reaction of 1-hydroxy-1,2-dihydrophosphinine 1-oxide 3 with alkyl halides. The best results were obtained in boiling acetone in the presence of K 2 CO 3 . The outcome of the alkylation of 3-hydroxy-6,6-dichloro-3-phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 3-oxide 5 was dependent on temperature. Butylation at 56 • C in acetone using K 2 CO 3 afforded mainly the expected phosphinate 6, but an increase in the temperature led to opening of the cyclopropane ring, resulting in the formation of 1-butoxy-1,2-dihydrophosphinine oxide 4a as the major product.