Abstract The synthesis of 5-O-[5-(pentanoic acid)]-phosphono-L-erythro-pent-2-ulose 2 was successfully achieved by coupling benzyl 5-hydroxypentanoate 9b and 1-O-benzyl-L-erythro- pent-2-ulose ethane-1, 2-diyl dithioacetal 13 with the enediol pyrophosphate 18. Compound 2 was coupled to carrier proteins, porcine thyroglobuline and bovine serum albumin and the conjugates were treated with KCN to give conjugates of the hapten 1, designed to raise ...