HYDROLYSIS OF N-(METHOXYCARBONYL-OR ISOPROPYLCARBAMOYL-METHOXYPHOSPHONYL)-α-AMINO ACID ESTERS

The hydrolysis of the title compounds was studied in order to investigate the possibility of their usage as drugs or pesticides. It was found that there were two different pathways of hydrolysis according to the pH region of the solution. In the acidic pH region, the P-N bond cleaves for the both compounds. In the basic pH region, the P-C and P-O bonds would cleave for the compound of N-(methoxycarbonyl-methoxyphosphonyl)-α-amino acid ester (I). While for the compound of N-(isopropylcarbamoyl-methoxyphosphony1)-α-amino acid ester (11). only the P-O bond cleaves. The possible mechanism is discussed.