A method for forming 1,3,5,7-tetraalkyl-6-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,4,8-trioxa-6-phosphaadamantane includes obtaining a solution comprising an ethereal solvent and an aluminum hydride, adding dichloro(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)phosphine to the solution to produce 2,4-dimethoxyphenylphosphine, and reacting the 2,4-dimethoxyphenylphosphine with an acidic mixture comprising diones to produce 1,3,5,7-tetraalkyl-6-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,4,8-trioxa-6-phosphaadamantane. The solution has a temperature from IN greater than −20 C. to 50 C. throughout the method. Another method for forming 1,3,5,7-tetraalkyl-6-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,4,8-tri-oxa-6-phosphaadamantane includes obtaining dichloro(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)phosphine, forming 2,4-dimethoxyphenylphosphine by adding the dichloro(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)phosphine to a solution comprising at least one solvent and an aluminum hydride, reacting the 2,4-dimethoxyphenylphosphine with a mixture to produce 1,3,5,7-tetraalkyl-6-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,4,8-trioxa-6-phosphaadamantane. The mixture includes an acid selected from the group consisting of Lewis acids, sulfonic Bronsted acids, and mixtures thereof, an aromatic or non-aromatic hydrocarbons; and acetylacetone.