Abstract A preparation of glycosylphosphonates (27, 28, 36, 38, and 39) from 2-azido-2- deoxy-glycoses (26, 35, and 37) and the synthesis of the non-isosteric phosphonate analogue 3a of lipid X (2) are described. The 2-azido group was introduced by azidonitration. Treatment of the 1-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranose 22 with 1.5-3 equiv. of P (OMe) 3 and 1.2-2.5 equiv. of TfOSiMe 3 gave mainly recovered starting ...