The present subject matter provides a safe alternative for producing an important intermediate useful for preparing the herbicide glufosinate, without need for chlorine components in the manufacturing process. In particular, a process for preparing alkyl phosphinic aid alkyl ester is provided, including the step of alkylating alkyl phosphinic acid ester in a non-polar solvent in the same apparatus as used to first produce the alkyl phosphinic acid ester, and without isolating the alkyl phosphinic acid ester before the alkylation step is conducted. More specifically, a process is presented for preparing methyl phosphinic acid butyl ester, by alkylating butyl phosphinic acid ester in a non-polar solvent, in the same apparatus as used previously to first produce the butyl phosphinic acid ester and without isolating the butylphosphinic acid ester before alkylation.

The present provides a process for preparing dialkyl phosphinate, comprising: (1) firstly adding 0-99% of the total weight of phosphinic acids and/or salts thereof and a solvent into a reaction kettle; (2) in the reaction kettle in the presence of alkene and initiator, continuously adding 1-100% of the total weight of the phosphinic acids and/or salts thereof into the reaction system, during the addition process, when the mole contents of monoalkyl phosphinic acids and/or salts thereof account for 10% or less of the total molar contents of phosphorus in the reaction system, stopping adding the phosphinic acids and/or salts thereof. Also providing a dialkyl phosphinate flame retardant prepared by above preparation process.

The present invention provides fire-retarded rigid polyurethane foam comprising the reaction product of polyol and isocyanate foam forming components and a dialkyl phosphorus-containing compound, namely a reactive mono-hydroxyl-functional dialkyl phosphinates, as flame retardant, serving as highly efficient reactive flame retardant in said rigid polyurethane foam.

The present invention relates primarily to processes conducted in a continuously operated reactor for preparing particular phosphorus-containing α-aminonitriles of the formulae (Ia) and (Ib) defined hereinafter from corresponding phosphorus-containing cyanohydrin esters and to the use thereof for preparation of glufosinate or of glufosinate salts. The present invention further relates to a process for producing glufosinate/glufosinate salts.

Provided are a nonaqueous electrolyte solution which makes it possible to further improve low temperature characteristics and high temperature storage characteristics; and a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising such a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The present nonaqueous electrolyte solution comprises: (I) a first additive represented by the following formula [1], (II) at least one second additive selected from the group consisting of the compounds represented by the following formulae [2] to [5], difluoro(oxalato)borate, bis(oxalato)borate, tetrafluoro(oxalato)phosphate, difluorobis(oxalato)phosphate, tris(oxalato)phosphate, difluorophosphate, and fluorosulfonate, (III) a nonaqueous organic solvent, and (IV) a solute.

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The present invention relates primarily to processes conducted in a continuously operated reactor for preparing particular phosphorus-containing α-aminonitriles of the formulae (Ia) and (Ib) defined hereinafter from corresponding phosphorus-containing cyanohydrin esters and to the use thereof for preparation of glufosinate or of glufosinate salts. The present invention further relates to a process for producing glufosinate/glufosinate salts.

The present invention relates primarily to a process for producing particular phosphinates (phosphonous acid monoesters) and use thereof for producing biologically active substances which may be used in the pharmaceutical or agrochemical sector, preferably for producing phosphorus-containing amino acids.

The present invention primarily relates to a process for producing certain phosphorus-containing cyanohydrin esters of formula (I) and the use thereof for producing glufosinate/glufosinate salts. The present invention further relates to a process for producing glufosinate/glufosinate salts.

The present invention relates primarily to a process for preparing certain phosphorus-containing cyanohydrins of the formula (I), and also to certain phosphorus-containing cyanohydrins per se and to their use for the preparation of glufosinate and/or glufosinate salts. The present invention further relates to certain mixtures particularly suitable for preparing the phosphorus-containing cyanohydrins of the formula (I).

The present invention provides fire-retarded rigid polyurethane foam comprising the reaction product of polyol and isocyanate foam forming components and a dialkyl phosphorus-containing compound, namely a reactive mono-hydroxyl-functional dialkyl phosphinates, as flame retardant, serving as highly efficient reactive flame retardant in said rigid polyurethane foam.