Abstract The hydrolysis of the title compound proceeds very fast in weakly acidic aqueous media by a stepwise release of both ethyl ester groups via phosphorus-oxygen bond fission. The reactions are about 10 6 times faster than that for the release of one ethyl group of the corresponding trans-isomer. The observed kinetics are consistent with a mechanism involving intramolecular catalysis by the undissociated carboxyl group.
