Facile Dephosphonylation of β-Ketophosphonic Acids:  Mechanistic Studies

We have found that β-ketophosphonic acids can undergo facile dephosphonylation under fairly mild conditions. The rate of dephosphonylation is dependent on the electronic nature of the substituent on the carbon atom α to phosphorus, with electron-withdrawing groups accelerating the process. ³¹P NMR studies were used to probe the mechanism for the process.