(Hydroxyimino)Phosphonoacetic Acids: Synthesis,Stereochemistry and Reactivity

Abstract

Individual E/Z isomers of the C-methyl ester 1 of α-(hydroxyimino)phosphonoacetic acid (“troika acid”) were recently prepared as dicyclohexylammonium salts and found to be stable at neutral pH.¹ On alkaline demethylation followed by pH adjustment to 6–7, E?1 and Z?1 stereospecifically undergo P-C_αand C_α-C_β cleavage, respectively.¹ Herein we report synthesis of the corresponding P-methyl ester from trimethyl phos-phonoacetate 2. The product was isolated as its bis-DCHA⁺ salt E-3, with stereochemistry assigned by NMR.²