title: Phosphorochloridate
text: # Phosphorochloridate
  
  In chemistry, a phosphorochloridate is a class of organophosphorus compounds with the formula $(RO)_2P(O)Cl$ (R = organic substituent). They are tetrahedral in shape, akin to regular phosphates $(OP(OR)_3).$ They are usually colorless and sensitive toward hydrolysis. They are oxidized derivatives of phosphorochloridites, which have the formula $(RO)_2PCl.$ A popular example is diethyl phosphorochloridate.
  
  ## Synthesis and reactions
  
  Phosphochloridites are precursors to phosphate esters:
  
      $(RO)_2P(O)Cl$ + R'OH → $(R'O)(RO)_2P(O)$ + HCl
  
  Other nucleophiles have been employed, such as azide.
  
  