(DCC)/(N, N-dimethy1amino) pyridine (DMAP) mediated coupling of phosphonous acids 6a- 0 with (hydroxyacyl)-prolines 3b-g and oxidation of the resulting phosphonous monoesters to phosphonic monoesters 7a-t with sodium metaperiodate in aqueous dioxane. This method has proven to be very general and can be used to prepare phosphonic monoesters of even tertiary alcohols with phosphonous acids of a wide variety of structural types. 4 ...