Alkyl phosphates belong to a group of called . They are of phosphoric acid H3PO4 and corresponding alcohol. For example, the formula of methyl phosphate is CH3-H2PO4, dimethyl phosphate – (CH3)2HPO4 and trimethyl phosphate – (CH3)3PO4.
Alkyl phosphates are widely distributed in nature, and form the basis of most biological processes. For example, high energy metabolites such as ATP and PEP are alkyl phosphates, as are nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA. Alkyl phosphates are also important medicinally, for example the HIV drug Zidovudine is inactive until it becomes an alkyl phosphate in vivo.
Dialkyl phosphate
In Dialkyl phosphates, two of the hydrogens in phosphoric acid are replaced by alkyl groups, e.g.
dimethyl phosphate – (CH
3)
2HPO
4
Agricultural use
Dialkyl phosphates or
dialkyl phosphate esters are used in many
agrochemical.
Levels in the urine have been used as a method of trying to determine levels of exposure to
organophosphates; however, it is unclear how well they do this.
Health effects
Exposure to dialkyl phosphate during pregnancy appears to increase the risk of
ADHD.
Trialkyl phosphate
In Trialkyl phosphates, all three hydrogens in phosphoric acid are replaced by alkyl groups, e.g. trimethyl phosphate – (CH
3)
3PO
4.