Abstract A general approach to isosteric phosphonate analogues of ulose-l-phosphates is described. A base-catalysed chain elongation via a Michael addition of 1-deoxy-1-nitro- sugars 4, 8, and 16 to the vinylphosphonate 18 followed by hydrolysis of the nitro adducts gave the analogues of D-ribulose-1-phosphate, D-fructose-1-phosphate, and D- sedoheptulose-1, 7-diphosphate 21, 23, and 27, respectively, in high yields.
