Efficient method for the asymmetric reduction of α- and β-ketophosphonates

An efficient and versatile method for the asymmetric reduction of α- and β-ketophosphonates using chiral reactant derived from sodium borohydride and l-(+)- or d-(−)-tartaric acid is developed. The methodology was used for the preparation of a number of biologically interesting enantiomerically pure products: including 2,3-epoxypropylphosphonate 11, 2-hydroxy-3-aminopropylphosphonic acid 14 (phospho-GABOB), phospho-carnitine 19, and others in multigram scale.