Abstract
3-Hydroxy-3-diphenyloxophosphino-butanone-2 and 2-hydroxy-2-diphenyloxophosphino-propionic acid ethyl ester were synthesized by reacting diphenyl phosphine oxide with diacetyl or ethyl pyruvate respectively. The reaction of diphenyl phosphine oxide with diacetyl did not lead to an addition to both carbonyls of diacetyl although the reactants ratio utilized was 2:1. The structure of the aforementioned compounds was confirmed by elemental analysis. IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy.