Dialkyl [2-hydroxy-5-(phenylazo)benzyl]phosphonates were prepared by a conv
enient procedure in good yield from Mannich base and trialkyl phosphite in
benzene with the elimination of ammonium or morpholinium cation. 2-[(Dialky
lamino)methyl]-4-(phenylazo)phenol methiodide is a new reagent in the Micha
elis-Arbuzov reaction.