Oxidation of phosphines by supercritical nitrous oxide

[GRAPHICS] Despite its reputation for lack of reactivity at moderate temperatures, nit rous oxide is capable of oxidizing at least one class of organic compounds, the phosphines, at temperatures at or below 100 degrees C. The use of supe rcritical N2O as both the solvent and the reactant simplifies the isolation of the products and allows one to avoid the use of flammable liquid solven ts.